Key Takeaways
- Mohammed Aziz was sentenced to nine years in prison for repeatedly raping a teenage girl over nearly six years and for possessing objectionable material.
- The victim described lasting psychological trauma, saying she learned to “read a room before she learned to read a book” and often felt like “just a body moving through the hours.”
- Aziz fled New Zealand after the abuse was reported, remained abroad for more than a year, and was arrested upon his return at Auckland Airport in August 2025.
- Judge Tony Snell emphasized the ongoing harm caused by Aziz’s actions, rejected any causal link between Aziz’s own childhood abuse and his offending, and called the 25 % guilty‑plea discount “generous.”
- A protection order was issued for the victim, and Aziz will be automatically registered as a child sex offender; his release date will be determined by the Parole Board.
Background of the Offending
The court heard that Aziz, a man known to the teenager, exploited her vulnerability after she broke up with her boyfriend. She confided in him about her heartbreak, and he suggested they move to a private room to talk further. While she sat on a bed expressing her sadness, Aziz hugged her, rubbed her back, then removed her clothing and raped her. This incident was not isolated; the victim later disclosed that similar sexual violations had occurred regularly for almost six years, beginning when she was a child.
Victim’s Disclosure and Police Involvement
Later the same evening, the teenager emailed a school teacher requesting to discuss something “serious and important.” The teacher alerted police, and the girl disclosed the historical abuse. During the investigation she also revealed that Aziz had taken pictures and videos of her in the shower. When her mother later messaged Aziz, he claimed he had “found naked images of the victim” in a folder on his phone, prompting a police search of his residence in April 2024.
Forensic Evidence and Aziz’s Flight
During the April 2024 search, Aziz provided a DNA sample to police but fled the country the next day, driving to Christchurch and leaving New Zealand. Clothing the victim wore at the time of the assault was seized and forensically examined; Aziz’s DNA was found both on the garments and on the victim’s body during a medical examination. He remained abroad for more than a year before being apprehended.
Arrest and Return to New Zealand
Aziz was arrested at Auckland Airport in August 2025 upon his return to New Zealand, more than a year after he had fled. Crown prosecutor Sophie O’Donoghue highlighted that his prolonged absence demonstrated a prioritisation of his own needs over facing justice. She argued for a 12‑year starting point for sentencing, citing the frequency and premeditated nature of the rapes over the six‑year period.
Crown’s Sentencing Position
O’Donoghue objected to any discount for remorse, noting that Aziz had minimised his conduct by telling a pre‑sentence report writer that he had raped the victim “only once.” She said his expressed intention to undertake rehabilitation had “not scratched the surface of the offending,” and that his lack of genuine insight warranted a severe penalty.
Defence’s Mitigation Arguments
Defence lawyer Amanda Godwin secured a 25 % discount for Aziz’s guilty plea, which spared the victim from having to endure a trial. She argued that Aziz wished to attend a sex‑offender rehabilitation programme, had expressed shame and insight into the harm caused, and had returned to New Zealand to face the charges. Godwin contended that these factors justified a more lenient sentence.
Judge’s Reasoning and Rejection of Causal Links
Judge Tony Snell delivered a stern sentence, stating that Aziz had “physically and psychologically harmed her in the worst ways possible” and that the harm would persist for years. He explicitly rejected any causal connection between Aziz’s alleged childhood abuse—said to have occurred 40 years earlier—and his repeated offending, asking, “Can you explain how something which happened 40 years earlier coincided with him repeatedly raping this girl?” The judge deemed such a link unfounded.
Impact of Possession of Objectionable Material
In addition to the rape charge, Aziz was convicted of possessing an objectionable publication. Judge Snell treated this as an aggravating factor, imposing a concurrent nine‑month sentence for that offence. He noted that the possession of such material further demonstrated Aziz’s disregard for the victim’s dignity and the gravity of his conduct.
Sentencing Outcome and Guilty‑Plea Discount
Starting from a 12‑year base, Judge Snell applied the 25 % discount for Aziz’s guilty plea, describing it as “generous.” He declined any further discount for the potential impact of imprisonment on Aziz’s child, observing that Aziz had shown no hesitation in abandoning the child when he fled New Zealand. The judge remarked that a future relationship with the child “does not appear to be a bad thing,” underscoring his view that Aziz’s parental responsibilities were negligible given his actions.
Protection Order and Registration
The court granted a protection order sought by the victim, and Aziz was automatically registered as a child sex offender. His eventual release date will be determined by the Parole Board, which will assess his risk and progress toward rehabilitation before any consideration of parole. The victim’s support person concluded the proceedings by expressing hope that the sentencing would serve as a “monument to her incredible courage,” a sentiment echoed by the victim’s own words about learning to navigate a world fraught with danger long before she learned to read.