Car used to move body found

Police investigating the murder of a Rotorua man with gang connections have found the car that was used to move him from his home the night he was murdered.

Hemi Hohepa's body was found in Whakarewarewa forest in the Bay of Plenty on October 20 by two walkers.

Police believe the 27-year old had Mongrel Mob gang connections.

Mr Hohepa died from a single stab wound.

Detective Senior Sergeant Kim Libby of Rotorua said police had located the car, a Nissan Terrano, which had been used to move Mr Hohepa from his home the night he was murdered.

He said the vehicle had been stopped at a routine traffic stop in Te Awamutu.

"Even though we have requested the people who were in the vehicle to contact the police nobody did."

Police were in the process of identifying the people in the car.

Mr Libby said the people in the car were the last to see Mr Hohepa before he died.

Police were currently awaiting forensic results taken from the vehicle.

Anyone with information should contact Operation Bracken on 0800 TIP OFF (0800 847 633).

- NZPA