Veitch's wife angry at police investigation

Tony Veitch and Wife Zoe Halford
Tony Veitch and Wife Zoe Halford
Tony Veitch's wife has accused police involved in the investigation into allegations her husband seriously assaulted a former girlfriend, as unprofessional and biased.

The shamed former sports presenter is expected to learn soon -- possibly as early as tomorrow -- whether he will be charged with attacking ex-girlfriend Kristin Dunne-Powell.

Police confirmed on Friday their investigation was nearing completion but refused to comment on whether Veitch would be charged.

In July Veitch admitted "lashing out" at his former partner Kristin Dunne-Powell after a row at his home in 2006 leaving her with serious back injuries.

Speaking publicly for the first time since his admission, Veitch's wife Zoe Halford said she understood Ms Dunne-Powell had made other allegations of assault against her husband.

"All we can think of is that once the truth is out there and all the facts are on the table, justice will have to prevail," she told the Sunday Star Times.

"If it's the truth and if we are given a fair go -- which we deserve to have -- it will be fine.

"From what we understand in regard to the police investigation, ex-girlfriends and friends have all been contacted and potentially they are investigating other things, which is just ludicrous."

On Friday, police armed with a search warrant raided the couple's home in Herne Bay, Auckland, seizing a number of items.

TV3 and frontman John Campbell turned up while police were searching the house and Ms Halford believed police had leaked the information, which made her "feel ill".

"These are the people who are supposed to be protecting us and dare I say they might have a hidden agenda."

Veitch had not yet been interviewed and their first contact with police was a message left on their answerphone on Thursday night asking to make an appointment, Ms Halford said.

The tape had picked up an aside by the officer in response to the "jovial" greeting on the answerphone.

"The detective said `I bet he hasn't got a smile on his face like that any more'.

"I wanted to vomit. It made me feel as if there was unprofessionalism and bias."

Ms Halford told the Herald on Sunday she was worried her husband would not be given "a fair go" by the police.

"It's almost like we've got two things to worry about, the media trial and the police. They actually impact on each other hugely, which is scary, and it's not fair on Tony."

She said she had lived with the shadow of Kristin Dunne-Powell hanging over her the entire time she had known her husband.

She said Ms Dunne-Powell appeared to react each time she saw Tony Veitch or the couple together, or if they were photographed socially.

"There was always something from her within a couple of days. It was always very reactionary."

Ms Halford said that she had hoped once Ms Dunne-Powell was married "she wouldn't be bothering us so much". "I've always said to Tony that if she is happy in her own marriage she will leave us alone."

Veitch, 34, resigned from Television New Zealand and Radio Sport on the same day police announced Ms Dunne-Powell had laid a formal complaint of assault.

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