Helensville 'whodunnit' investigation continues

Police work at an address on SH16 near Helensville, where a homicide investigation was launched. Photo / NZ Herald

A major "whodunnit" investigation is continuing into the homicide of Lee Ross McMurdo, which has stunned the small community of Helensville northwest of Auckland.

More than 30 police officers are involved, with teams continuing to forensically examine Mr McMurdo's large property, with its glasshouse and numerous outhouses, and others trying to reconstruct his actions in the week of his death, inquiry head Detective Inspector Greg Cramer said.

"Also, trying to piece together a man's life takes quite a lot of time and resources.

"In homicide investigations we often have the luxury of a named suspect. We have a situation here where we have no suspects at the moment so we have to leave no stone unturned.

"There are still some still some very big gaps in the puzzle at this point - it is very much a whodunnit."

Mr McMurdo's body was found outside his home on Friday but police are not saying when they think he died or how.

Police launched the homicide inquiry because "it is clear another person was involved in his death", Mr Cramer said.

Mr McMurdo, 32, had lived in Helensville for much of his life and was well known in the small semi-rural community.

He worked as a truck driver and was involved in transporting flowers.

He had three children, aged 12, 3 and a few months.

"Any small community reels at the prospect of someone having possibly been murdered in their midst," Mr Cramer said.

"There are a lot of people stunned by this. His family are obviously devastated."

Close family members, including his daughter, found his body.

Mr Cramer appealed to anyone who had been in contact with Mr McMurdo recently to contact police.

"Any information we can get, no matter how small it may seem, could help up us find out what happened."

- NZPA