By CATHY ARONSON
Thames police have begun a homicide inquiry after a body was found at the side of State Highway 25 by passersby at the weekend.
Police believe the 35-year-old local man, Damien Montgomery Povey, was involved in a fight at a nearby commercial property on Saturday evening.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Whitehead said police and forensic experts were yet to piece together what happened.
Several passersby had stopped and tried to assist the man, who was clearly visible from the busy highway.
Mr Whitehead would not confirm if Mr Povey was alive or dead when the passersby stopped, or who had found him and alerted the police.
Police attended the scene about 7 pm on Saturday. They want to hear from people who stopped to help but have not spoken to the police, and those who drove past the scene between 6.45 pm and 7.30 pm.
The body was found on State Highway 25 near the Hire Centre in the Kopu industrial area, about 300m east of the Kopu Bridge, between the Paeroa-Thames Rd turnoff.
The section of highway between the turnoff and the Kopu Bridge remained closed last night as police continued their investigations.
Traffic was diverted through the industrial area.
Some motorists experienced minor hold-ups.
Homicide inquiry after drivers find body near Thames
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.