Paeroa death: Mother finds son's body

By PAUL YANDALL

The suspicious death of a Paeroa man is the fifth homicide case for police in four days.

Brian Paul Olsen, aged 25, was discovered at his Thames Rd home by his mother and a friend around 10 am yesterday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Whitehead, of Paeroa, said the cause of death was still being determined and the body would not be moved until a thorough forensic examination was completed. An initial study of the scene indicated that the death was suspicious.

Police were alerted after Mr Olsen's mother, Joy Olsen, and the friend forced their way into the house.

A work colleague, Brian Tomlin, said he went to the home about 8.30 am after Mr Olsen had failed to turn up for work.

He became suspicious when no one answered the door and he saw Mr Olsen's pet dog, which usually stayed inside the house, wandering around outside.

Mr Olsen's mother and Mr Tomlin's wife arrived at the property later and forced open a front window for Mrs Olsen to climb through.

Neighbour Terry Watton said that shortly after Mrs Olsen entered the house he heard her crying out that her son was dead.

No one went inside the house again until the police arrived.

Mr Watton said Mr Olsen had moved into the house from his mother's home three months ago.

Mr Tomlin said he was shocked at the death.

He had become good friends with Mr Olsen during the six years they had known each other.

"I don't know who could have done this. It's too small a place for this to happen."

Both men worked for local plumbing firm Dreardon Plumbing and Drainage.

Bruce Dreardon said Mr Olsen had been hired about a year ago and got on well with his colleagues.

"He wouldn't do anything to anybody - the guy wouldn't hurt a lamb."

Mr Olsen had been a conscientious worker who had just been promoted to second-in-charge of the drainlaying road crew.

Neighbour Ellen Barber said Mr Olsen was a "big friendly guy" who kept mainly to himself, but always had a lot of friends arriving and leaving his home.

She said she was woken yesterday about 4 am by what she believed were cars leaving Mr Olsen's property.

"I thought, 'God, he's not off to work now, is he?'

"It sounded like a couple of cars going."

Today, up to 20 police are expected to be working on the investigation, which follows homicide inquiries launched in Auckland, Palmerston North, Taumarunui and Christchurch this week.

Mr Olsen's death takes the number of homicides in New Zealand this year to 31 - not 42 as reported yesterday.