Psychologist calls time over Veitch saga

Tony Veitch

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It's time for embattled broadcaster Tony Veitch and his ex-girlfriend Kristin Dunne-Powell to stop taking pot shots at each other and move on for everyone's sake, says psychologist Sara Chatwin.

Two days after Veitch pleaded guilty to kicking Dunne-Powell as she lay on the floor in his bedroom in January 2006, both sides were still fighting this time sparring in the media.

Yesterday Dunne-Powell claimed in the Dominion Post newspaper that Team Veitch had tried to intimidate her with a smear campaign in a bid to force her to pull out of the case. But Veitch has launched his own counter-claims, saying Dunne-Powell emailed him nearly six weeks after the incident, which hospitalised her, suggesting they get together for a weekend in Hamilton and appearing to suggest they sleep together.

Veitch released email extracts to the Sunday Star-Times saying he wanted to set the record straight after Dunne-Powell's interview on Campbell Live on Thursday night about the January 29, 2006 incident.

But Chatwin said it was very damaging for all involved to have relationship breakdowns played out in public. Media coverage of the Veitch case had been particularly "ferocious".

"I think they need to let go, move on and do it quietly... and not let this mar their lives."

Chatwin said it was human nature for someone to justify or quash public allegations. "Maybe one of them should put their hand up and say `I don't want to comment. Take your swipe but I'm not going to be responding'. To-ing and fro-ing is not good."

During the interview with John Campbell, Dunne-Powell said Veitch proposed to her on the way to hospital after the incident.

When asked if she kept pursuing Veitch after the attack, she said "No, that is not true."

She admitted it was a confusing relationship and "possibly through till March after the incident, I was still desperately confused".

"To say that I was stalking him or desperately wanting to get back with him is utterly incorrect."

But Veitch told the Star-Times he was frustrated that incorrect information was being published and he never proposed.

In an email dated March 8, 2006, Dunne-Powell invited Veitch to join her at a bar for an engagement party and offered to travel to Hamilton the following weekend, where he was to be working.

She wrote: "Not sure if you're doing nights, days or both, but just a thought. Fully realise you may need to go out with the group, but given it's over three days I thought you might want some company in the evidently dull Hamilton. We could go to the museum and stuff like that (or just have you know what)."

In November 2006, Veitch emailed Dunne-Powell wishing her well. "Happy to help you out financially," he wrote. "That is the least I can do. I just hope the therapy is helping and you are getting to a state where you can live a normal life."

He ended: "So Kristin Louise Dunne I say to you good luck with your future. Again I say with utter sadness how sorry I am for all that happened. The type of behaviour was not `us' not even close, we are much better people than that. I know that in my heart that certainly was not me. How it ever got to that level of life defies belief but just know I intend never to get back there again."

On November 18, Dunne-Powell replied: "Hi Tony hope you're having a great weekend. I... just wanted to say thank you for your words. I've read your emails a number of times and every time I do I feel relieved and proud of you, that you are the awesome person I always believed in." She continued: "I do think of you every day and I'm happy you are finding happiness and love with Zoe. I will never understand why it could not be with me. But I guess as I have said a billion times, it's unfolding exactly as it should."

Dunne-Powell yesterday agreed with Chatwin that it was time to move on. "I just want to put this behind me and move on and therefore making no comment is the only way to ensure this media contact stops. The sharing of personal emails and other information is sinking to another new low," she said.

After pleading guilty on Thursday, Veitch was convicted in the Auckland District Court, fined $10,000 and sentenced to community work.

- © Fairfax NZ News