They were fierce-looking men with full facial tattoos, were disrespectful to the court process and could not have given a good impression to the jury.
That was what the lawyer for one of two men appealing their murder convictions told the Court of Appeal in Wellington today.
Dillin Pakai and Shane Harrison were found guilty in 2014 of murdering Lower Hutt man Sio Matalasi.
Mr Matalasi was fatally shot during a gang fracas between rival chapters of the Mongrel Mob at Petone flats in 2013.
Pakai was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 12 years and Harrison was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 13 years.