Paeroa death: Rumours unhelpful to police

Jordan Voudouris, 55, who was found dead outside his pizza shop, Mykonos Pizzas, in Paeroa. Photo / Supplied

Police investigating the murder of Paeroa pizza restaurant say rumours circulating around the town are unhelpful.

Thirty-three police officers are investigating the murder of Jordan Voudouris, who was shot dead outside the Mykonos restaurant on June 18.

Head of the Operation Olive team, Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Whitehead said the investigation team has so far spoken to the occupants of about 350 private and business addresses.

"After collecting this information we then have to subject it to analysis to either corroborate or eliminate it as we build up a picture of what has occurred. Each piece of information we receive generates a number of other enquiries that we must undertake and this process is very time consuming."

Mr Whitehead asked that people do not maliciously or falsely generate rumours as this can waste a lot of police time, which he said could be better spent following genuine leads.

"We continue to appeal for people to come forward with information. Although the investigation has been going for a month we are still discovering people who potentially have crucial information who have not come forward."

Mr Whitehead said the investigation team is working to establish everyone who went to Mykonos on the night of Sunday, June 17, and everyone who was out walking or driving about the central area
of Paeroa between 10pm on the Sunday and 6am on Monday, June 18.

"The police now believe that Mr Voudouris was shot sometime between 1.30am and 4.30am on the morning Monday of 18 June but the offender(s) activity either side of this time frame may have attracted someone's attention," Mr Whitehead said.

"Given we have revealed that Mr Voudouris was the victim of a shooting we would now like to hear from anyone who knows of firearms being stolen, anyone having firearms who should not have and any activity involving firearms that was suspicious or out of the ordinary.

Police have set up Facebook page and a website to assist the investigation.

Mr Whitehead said anyone with information should contact Paeroa Police on 07 862 8744 or Crime stoppers on 0800 555 111.