Danny and Roberto Jaz will be sentenced today at the Christchurch District Court. Photo: NZ Herald / George Heard
Survivors who were drugged and sexually attacked by Danny and Roberto Jaz at Christchurch bar Mama Hooch have told a court the brothers' crimes have left them feeling damaged, fearful and forever changed.
The men used their positions in their family businesses - as bar manager at Mama Hooch and chef at neighbouring restaurant Venuti - to routinely spike drinks, drug and sexually violate patrons from 2015 to 2018.
The pair were sentenced at the Christchurch District Court this afternoon by Judge Paul Mabey KC.
Roberto Jaz, 38, was given 17 years in prison, with a minimum non-parole period of 8.5 years.
Danny Jaz, 40, was given 16.5 years, with no parole available until at least eight years have been served.
Nine of the survivors read powerful victim impact statements to the court, the first of whom was drugged and indecently assaulted by Danny Jaz.
She said the attack had completely rewired her brain.
"Danny you have damaged me. My outlook on life is skewed because of what you thought you were entitled to with my body and my choices," she said.
The woman said she left Christchurch not long after the assault for fear of running into Danny Jaz.
"My inability to trust new people enough to accept them as a friend, or even an acquaintance, particularly with men, is something I will carry for life," she said.
Another survivor choked back tears in court, saying she was still struggling to process what happened to her in 2018.
"The offending against me has changed me. I struggle with anxiety and depression still. I am fearful and vigilant in social settings, and I am constantly having flashbacks which set my anxiety and emotions off," she said.
Sophie Brown told the court she was left to pick up the fragments of her life after she was drugged and sexually violated in 2017. Photo: Pool / NZ Herald / George Heard
Sophie Brown, who waived her name suppression, told the court she was left to pick up the fragments of her life after she was drugged and sexually violated in 2017.
"You stole my fierce independence from me. You stole my right to feel safe in my own mind from me, and you stole my right to autonomy over my own body away from me. For those things I'll never forgive you," she said.
"I am still a confident, tenacious, and strong-willed woman, who will continue to rise miles above you, because I deserve a happy and meaningful life, the opposite of what you deserve."
She directly addressed the judge saying: "Please remember the consequences I have faced".
During a nine-week judge-alone trial earlier this year, it emerged the Jaz brothers had targeted 32 people, mainly young women aged between 18 and 24.
Judge Paul Mabey KC told the Jaz brothers that they made conscious decisions to exploit and abuse their victims.
"You should both be in no doubt that you've severely damaged all of your victims by your predatory and heartless offending driven by arrogance, misguided self-belief and a complete lack of respect for the rights of those you've offended against," he said.
The judge said he had received character references from people who described the brothers as men of good character, however, he disputed this description.
"You are not men of good character, you are sexual predators," he said.
"No person in our society has the right to treat others as beneath them, or of less value than others, then heartlessly exploit them as you did."
Judge Mabey finished by addressing the survivors.
"I have imposed a sentence which I consider to be appropriate. It will be of no comfort to the family of Danny and Roberto Jaz, and it may not be a lot of comfort to you brave women," he said.
"I was impressed with the way you gave your evidence, and I was impressed with your bravery today.
"It is now for you to move on, as best you can. And I think you will."
Following their convictions, lead investigator Detective Inspector Scott Anderson said the men had preyed on their victims in a disturbing way.
"One of their sole purposes was actually using the bar for their own gratification and servicing what they thought was quite all right for them, which it obviously wasn't," he said.
"It just goes to show how premeditated they were in targeting vulnerable people, in particular young girls, to do what they wanted with."
