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Tony Veitch safe after search

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Tony Veitch safe after search

3News NZ

Tony Veitch

Tony Veitch

Broadcaster Tony Veitch, who this week pleaded guilty to injuring his former partner, was the subject of a police search today after the alarm was raised that he had gone missing.

Veitch was found safe in the Waikato town of Ngaruawahia five hours after leaving Auckland, and was with police and his father.

On Thursday, Veitch, 35, was fined $10,000, placed on supervision for nine months and ordered to do 300 hours of community work after pleading guilty to injuring his former girlfriend Kristin Dunne-Powell with reckless regard to her safety in 2006.

He had been due to appear in court next week for a depositions hearing to decide if he would go to trial.

Veitch disappeared in his vehicle about midday, a source told NZPA.

"We were extremely concerned for his safety because of his depressed state."

A police spokesman would not comment.

In court, Veitch's lawyer, Stuart Grieve, QC, said Veitch had been deeply traumatised after the incident and had twice tried to kill himself.

Tony Veitch has again tried to take his own life, and there are increasing concerns over his fragile mental state.

3 News understands police were called in and Veitch is now safe, being cared for by his father and police.

NZPA / 3 News

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Comments

20/04/2009 9:21:08 p.m.

Jenny, Hamilton wrote:

I'm glad he's still alive. No-one should wish this on anyone. Yes I think he's guilty, but so are many men, well known & not so well known, who are never charged. There by the grace of God. I would like him to admit his guilt, to acknowledge it, but I believe right now that the media should back right off, not use him to sell more papers. He's been sentenced, he's very fragile & at risk right now. Leave him alone instead of driving him closer to the edge.
I must say however that when I heard of the search, I did wonder that if it were me who had sent someone a text saying that I was going to top myself, would 6 Police cars come looking for me? I'm a good & decent person. But would someone bother trying to triangulate my GPS location using my cellphone signal? Would a chopper be on stand-by? Would I warrant such a large amount of resources by an over-stretched Police force?
But I do wish Tony & his family well. And the many others every day in NZ who struggle with suicidal thoughts & impulses of either themselves or a dearly loved family member/friend, who don't receive enough help.

20/04/2009 3:27:57 p.m.

Jeff wrote:

Veitch is just trying to play the victim and the media are falling for it every time. Rather than stand up and take the punishment like a man, admit fully that he was to blame for kicking a woman in the back when she was on the ground, Veitch would now rather run off like a deranged teenage girl, claiming she’s going to kill herself just for the attention.

Harden up, do the right thing and stop expecting everyone to feel sorry for poor little Tony Veitch.

You’re really not that important.

20/04/2009 2:23:36 p.m.

Bron wrote:

I think the media should back off this story completely now. Is it really news-worthy? Many women have suffered physical abuse at the hands of their partners, and far worse than Dunne-Powell I think. And they sure did not get $162,000. I agree with Suzanne. She should give it back and no more be heard about this. Or that Devoy person either.

20/04/2009 12:43:30 p.m.

J Mee wrote:

It's time to let up on Tony Veitch and Ms Dunne-Powell. They'll never be able to get their lives back to normal with everyone having their two-cents worth continually being broadcast.

19/04/2009 3:27:44 p.m.

J Mee wrote:

New Zealand is becoming a sad little state full of opinionated hypocrites. I wonder how many wife-bashers and husband-naggers are reading these forums and smugly make a holier-than-thou judgement on Tony Veitch through these columans? As the saying goes - it takes two to tango.

19/04/2009 3:18:00 p.m.

Jay Jay wrote:

I don't condone what Tony Veitch has done but he's been hounded by the press. His identity was smeared over the news from day one - before he could even ask for name supression. There are rugby and league players who have done the self same thing and have permanent name suppression. Where's the fairness in that?

19/04/2009 11:53:13 a.m.

Katie wrote:

Great email Tony, just a pity it had to become public business, (and yes, obviously I read it). God bless you and I wish you every happiness for the future. There is nothing that cannot be overcome but it will take time.

19/04/2009 11:05:14 a.m.

Justine wrote:

We, as a country, are being told through advertisements to respect those suffering depression.

Obviously the ads aren't working because it doesn't matter what you read or listen to we're still all enjoying the `sport' of having our say on Tony Veitch - regardless of the obvious depressed mental state of the man.

Right now it doesn't matter if Tony Veitch is guilty or not. He is not well and his actions are those of someone who is stressed and not able to cope.

Will no-one be satisfied until the right amount of tablets have been swallowed?

18/04/2009 7:02:38 p.m.

Alien wrote:

Will, the media have a responsibility to report facts, in his case and in so many others they didn't, which leaves him the right to sue them.

18/04/2009 6:49:05 p.m.

Suzanne wrote:

The media is ruining Tony Veitch's life... be it on their heads should anything happen to him... Time for Ms Dunne-Powell to return $162000.00. While I do not condone domestic violence, Tony has been more than punished, and should now walk free... and hold his head high.