Saxton's detention in $1m house with a view

A helicopter pilot convicted of stealing pounamu on the West Coast began his six-month home detention sentence yesterday in a million-dollar house in Picton.

David Saxton had originally been sentenced to two years and nine months in prison after he and his son, Morgan Saxton, were found guilty in 2007 of the theft of greenstone from South Westland's Cascade Plateau.

Morgan Saxton died when his helicopter crashed into Lake Wanaka in November last year, five months after he and his father were released, pending appeal.

The pair were also ordered to pay reparation of $300,000.

Saxton is serving his sentence in Waikawa Rd. Neighbouring addresses include a holiday home owned by Christchurch multi-millionaire hotelier Earl Hagaman.

Hagaman, who has met David Saxton in the past, said he was "sympathetic" to his plight and had no problem with him serving his sentence near his property.

"I wouldn't have any objection to that. I wouldn't see it as a particular problem," he said.

Searchers will this weekend renew the hunt for the engine of Morgan Saxton's helicopter.

LandSAR director Bill Day, leading the search, said recovering the engine could help the Transport Accident Investigation Commission inquiry into why the chopper went down into the lake during a routine flight in near-perfect conditions.

The wreckage was initially spotted 74m below the surface, although its exact location is now unknown. Day said clearer conditions and specialist deep-diving equipment meant the group stood a "reasonable chance" of finding the engine.

-with NZPA