Hunt for pizza shop owner's killer continues

Jordan Voudouris. Photo / Supplied.

Twenty detectives continue to search for Jordan Voudouris' killer six months after the popular Paeroa pizza shop owner was murdered.

Tomorrow marks half a year since Mr Voudouris was shot dead, five days before his 56th birthday.

The murder mystery that shocked the town has also puzzled police, who today said they were "no less committed'' to finding answers.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Whitehead said police believed the answer to who killed Mr Voudouris lay within the local community.

"That's not to say the offender is from this area. What it means is that someone, somewhere has information that, for a variety of reasons, they haven't relayed to police,'' Mr Whitehead said.

"What we want to say to that person and, in fact, everyone else out there, is that as you sit down to enjoy Christmas dinner with your family to remember that Mr Voudouris had a family of his own, a family who would dearly love some closure to this tragedy.''

Mr Voudouris was found dead at the back entrance to Mykonos Pizza, the shop he owned and where he lived.

Police believe he was killed between 1.30am and 4.30am on June 18.

Mr Whitehead said "as time goes on, people's loyalties change'' and he urged anyone with information to come forward.

"The focus of the 20-strong investigation team remains the same as when we began this case six months ago, to identify those responsible and bring them before the courts,'' he said.

Anyone with information should call Paeroa Police on 07 862 8744 or Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.