Wellington, July 28 NZPA - A Haast helicopter pilot will be appeal his conviction for greenstone theft from beyond the grave at the Court of Appeal in Wellington today.

Morgan Saxton, 30, and his father David, 62, were found guilty in 2007 of the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of pounamu from Ngai Tahu.

Morgan Saxton was sentenced to two years and six months jail and his father to an extra three months.

They were also required to pay reparations of $300,000. They launched an appeal against the convictions and sentence last year.

However, Morgan Saxton was killed when his helicopter crashed in Lake Wanaka in November.

Saxton died without a will and as a likely beneficiary, his mother was granted control of his estate.

The Court of Appeal in March granted permission for her to continue the appeal which will be heard in Wellington today.

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