Veitch arrested

The Herald reports Tony Veitch has been arrested on seven charges:

Broadcaster Tony Veitch has been arrested on six charges of assault between 2002 and 2006 and one count of injuring with reckless disregard. …

The charge of male assaults female carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment for each count, while injuring with reckless disregard carries five years.

He will appear in Auckland District Court today.

I think it is good he has been charged, because issues of alleged domestic violence are criminal issues. This is the forum it should have gone to originally – a judicial one. I say that without indicating any belief in guilt, innocence or mitigating factors.

Martin Hirst at Ethical Martini blogged on the growing PR war between the affected parties. I am not surprised Veitch’s wife and family have started to hit back through the media, as they almost had no choice considering the campaign against Veitch that had dominated for weeks and months.

While I am not surprised, and understand why they are fighting back in public, I remain very uncomfortable at how the whole thing has played out in public. This is why it is good there will be a court process to determine the facts.

The conduct of the Police is also becoming an issue. First there was the apparent tip off to TV3 of the search on Veitch’s house, and then the accidentially recorded message from an officer who seemed to be taking an unprofessional enjoyment in bringing Veitch down.

If Veitch assaulted Dunne-Powell, he should be found guilty of the appropriate charges. However the punishment should take into account the wider picture, which is still very murky.