Court told man used dead brother's credit card

Helicopter pilot Morgan Saxton (pictured) died in an accident in November 2008. Photo / Supplied

Police investigating the continued use of Haast helicopter pilot Morgan Saxton's bank card after he died in an accident in November 2008, found that the dead man's brother had been using it, a court has been told.

In Whataroa District Court on Wednesday Darren Frederick Saxton, 25, faced one charge of taking the card and 14 of unlawfully using it.

Judge Phillip Moran remanded the matter at large until the next sitting of the court, on November 24, to allow for more information to be gathered.

Saxton's lawyer Pat Butler said his client believed he had the right to use the card.

"It's a family matter. The issue essentially is one of [colour] of right," Mr Butler told the court.

Meanwhile, Saxton was fined $1130 on unrelated charges of careless driving causing injury, and driving while suspended, at Motueka on March 12.

Police prosecutor sergeant Mark Harris said Saxton had been travelling too fast to safely negotiate a road, and crashed.

The car ended up on its roof and Saxton's passenger suffered a dislocated shoulder and lacerations, requiring two nights in hospital.

Judge Moran said it would be no comfort for Saxton to know that he had grown up in the area where the crash occurred and he was very familiar with the intersection: "I was brought up there. You plainly went round too quickly."

Saxton was disqualified from driving for nine months.

Whataroa township is 114km southwest of Hokitika.

- NZPA