A�defiant Tony Veitch will strenuously abnegate the charges of assaulting his late girlfriend - and both he and the crime syndicate of his alleged dupe have uttered relief that he has at net been charged.
"I am more determined than ever to fight to clear my name," the former TVNZ and Radio Sport broadcaster said outside Auckland District Court yesterday.
"There are two sides to every narration and I guarantee that will come out in the end."
Police have charged the 34-year-old with various counts of assaulting his former partner Kristin Dunne-Powell - half a dozen weeks after The Dominion Post revealed the January 2006 assault in which he kicked her as she lay on the floor of his St Heliers nursing home, breaking her back in four places.
He now faces seven charges spanning nearly four eld - six counts of male assaults female from March 2002 to December 2005, and one of injuring with reckless brush aside relating to the January 2006 incident.
The charge of male assaults female carries a upper limit penalty of two years' imprisonment for each enumerate, while injuring with reckless disregard carries five years.
Dressed in a casual shirt and a suit jacket when he appeared in court, Veitch rocked back and onward on his heels, looking strained and tired. He was supported by his wife, Zoe Halford, and the couple's families.
He was not asked to go in a plea and his lawyer Stuart Grieve, QC, said he would "strenuously defend" all the charges.
He was remanded on bail till September 29.
In an emotional statement outside the court after his appearance, Veitch, world Health Organization has admitted "lashing out" during the incident in January 2006, said the past six weeks had been difficult and frustrating.
"I can candidly say I am absolutely relieved now that at that place is clarity going ahead and I now know what I'm up against," he said.
Ms Dunne-Powell's father of the Church, Stephen Dunne, also aforesaid the charges were a relief for the family.
A spokesman for Ms Dunne-Powell, Alan McDonald of Star PR, said: "She's non interested in talking about it. Now it's a police matter, we've got nothing to say anyway."
Police have been investigating since Ms Dunne-Powell laid a formal complaint last calendar month. Officers searched his home in the Auckland suburban area of Herne Bay on Friday.Broadcasting Minister Trevor Mallard has sought a report into the case from TVNZ chairman Sir John Anderson after questions were raised about how much TVNZ knew about the January 2006 incident.
Prime Minister Helen Clark said she did not know if the charges would detain the report's release.
"I've plain observed the media reports that he has been arrested and charged but I don't have whatsoever information about that report."
CHARGES:
MALE ASSAULTS FEMALE
This can range from a minor altercation such as a force or shove up to a more serious ravishment. The upper limit penalty is two years in jail.
Veitch faces six counts of male assaults female.
The first base is alleged to have occurred between April 14, 2003, and April 9, 2005, in Mangawhai, north of Auckland, where it is tacit Veitch had a holiday house.
Other assaults are alleged in Auckland between March 15, 2002, and April 19, 2003; in Auckland on July 8, 2005; in Auckland on November 5, 2005; in Auckland on December 18, 2005; and in Rotorua between June 3 and June 4, 2003.
INJURING WITH RECKLESS DISREGARD
This is a more serious charge, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Veitch faces one charge of injuring with reckless disregard, which relates to an incident in which he allegedly kicked Ms Dunne-Powell and broke her back in January 2006.
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