Clinton's pendant linked to alleged greenstone theft

A pendant given to former United States President Bill Clinton may have been made from greenstone that it is alleged was stolen from the West Coast.

Pounamu sculptor Richard Anderson yesterday told the Alexandra District Court he bought pounamu or greenstone several times from Haast man David Anthony Saxton, who is accused of stealing it.

He said that on one occasion Saxton left a large slab of greenstone on his property, which Mr Anderson didn't want.

Another pounamu sculptor, Paul Toa, took the greenstone because he had a "big commission" for the 1999 Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) forum in Auckland.

International leaders at the summit, including President Clinton, were given pounamu pendants as gifts.

Saxton, 60, and his son Morgan David Saxton, 28, both helicopter pilots of Haast, deny charges of stealing greenstone from the Cascade Plateau in South Westland between January 1 1995 and October 12 2004 and being involved in money laundering between October 29 1997 and October 12 last year. 

The depositions hearing resumes next February. The Saxtons were remanded on bail.

- NZPA