Post by corsair67 on Apr 3, 2008 14:03:09 GMT 12
From stuff.co.nz.
Jail flyover for pounamu thieves
NZPA | Thursday, 03 April 2008
Protesters supporting convicted father and son greenstone thieves David and Morgan Saxton took to the air over Paparua Prison near Christchurch today.
The Saxtons were jailed for more than two years in February after being found guilty of stealing Ngai Tahu greenstone (pounamu) from South Westland's Cascade Plateau.
They were also required to pay the South Island's largest iwi $300,000 in compensation, a figure Ngai Tahu claimed bore no reflection of the actual value of the loss.
David Saxton, 62, was jailed for two years nine months and Morgan Saxton, 30, for two years six months.
Both helicopter pilots - credited with many rescue missions in South Westland, Fiordland and Central Otago - have lodged appeals against their convictions and sentences in the Court of Appeal.
Saxton Appeal Trust members and supporters organised an aerial protest from Christchurch's Wigram Airfield involving six helicopters and a fixed wing aircraft hauling a banner - "Free The Saxtons Now".
The aircraft took off from Wigram just after 11.15am and had clearance to fly over Paparua Prison, northwest of Christchurch, and other parts of Canterbury.
Trust spokeswoman Lisa Zwarst, David Saxton's daughter, said the Saxton family was concerned at the severity of the sentencing and the "grossly exaggerated" figures used to determine the amount of pounamu taken.
"The severity of the sentences was quite excessive," Ms Zwarst told NZPA today.
"It doesn't run in line, certainly, with similar offending and other offending which is worse," she said.
"Sexual offenders, violent offenders and recidivist drunk drivers are getting lesser sentences than those imposed on David and Morgan. It was shameful sentencing that just doesn't make sense.
"You've taken two good men out of a community where their skills are relied upon.
"When all's said and done it's only some green rock."
Ms Zwarst said the Saxtons had "a huge amount of support" in the community.
- NZPA
Jail flyover for pounamu thieves
NZPA | Thursday, 03 April 2008
Protesters supporting convicted father and son greenstone thieves David and Morgan Saxton took to the air over Paparua Prison near Christchurch today.
The Saxtons were jailed for more than two years in February after being found guilty of stealing Ngai Tahu greenstone (pounamu) from South Westland's Cascade Plateau.
They were also required to pay the South Island's largest iwi $300,000 in compensation, a figure Ngai Tahu claimed bore no reflection of the actual value of the loss.
David Saxton, 62, was jailed for two years nine months and Morgan Saxton, 30, for two years six months.
Both helicopter pilots - credited with many rescue missions in South Westland, Fiordland and Central Otago - have lodged appeals against their convictions and sentences in the Court of Appeal.
Saxton Appeal Trust members and supporters organised an aerial protest from Christchurch's Wigram Airfield involving six helicopters and a fixed wing aircraft hauling a banner - "Free The Saxtons Now".
The aircraft took off from Wigram just after 11.15am and had clearance to fly over Paparua Prison, northwest of Christchurch, and other parts of Canterbury.
Trust spokeswoman Lisa Zwarst, David Saxton's daughter, said the Saxton family was concerned at the severity of the sentencing and the "grossly exaggerated" figures used to determine the amount of pounamu taken.
"The severity of the sentences was quite excessive," Ms Zwarst told NZPA today.
"It doesn't run in line, certainly, with similar offending and other offending which is worse," she said.
"Sexual offenders, violent offenders and recidivist drunk drivers are getting lesser sentences than those imposed on David and Morgan. It was shameful sentencing that just doesn't make sense.
"You've taken two good men out of a community where their skills are relied upon.
"When all's said and done it's only some green rock."
Ms Zwarst said the Saxtons had "a huge amount of support" in the community.
- NZPA
