Help find killer, family pleads

Leone George listens as her late husband's mother Lindsay George speaks at yesterday's press conference. Picture / Amos Chapple

After waiting more than a month to find out for sure whether a body in a burnt- out house belonged to their loved one, a family's worst fears have been realised.

DNA tests have revealed that the body found last month in a house at Tirohanga, north of Taupo, is that of 35-year-old farm manager Stephen George.

Police said yesterday that at least two people were involved in the death.

The father of four lived in the farm cottage which was gutted by fire around 4.15am on October 9. Four days later his burnt-out 1993 Nissan Primera car was found about 40km from the farm.

Mr George was last seen leaving a friends' house in Kihikihi, south of Te Awamutu, soon after 1.30am.

His mother Lindsay George yesterday called for information to help police.

"It's been absolutely shocking for us all. Now that it has been confirmed that it is Stephen, we would like to touch the conscience of that person, and perhaps a few other persons, and just help us. And help the police."

The plea was made at a press conference where Mrs George joined her late son's wife, Leone George, his sister Susan Dodunski and her husband Shane.

She said while the family could now grieve, closure could only be achieved when those responsible had been found.

"We need people to come forward. Who had Stephen's car? Somebody knows. Just let it out, so we know, and we can have closure to all this please."

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Loper said tests were still continuing to determine how Mr George died.

He said at least two people were involved in the death, because whoever dumped and set fire to Mr George's car needed someone to drive them away.

Mr Loper called for anyone who saw Mr George on the morning he died to come forward.

"Specifically, after Stephen left sometime after 1.30 up until the house fire at about 4.15am.

"We are still on a fact finding mission. We want to hear from people in the community who have information that can assist us in our inquiry, it's just a matter of collating all that information."