A police officer is no longer working on the Tony Veitch case, amid revelations of personal links with the complainant, Veitch's ex-girlfriend Kristin Dunne-Powell.
Detective Keitha Lally and Dunne-Powell attended the same Les Mills Body Attack gym class and are "acquaintances" - their relationship was strong to the point that Dunne-Powell confided in Lally before laying an official complaint against Veitch.
Lally then worked on the case - she interviewed potential witnesses and was one of the officers who attended Veitch's arrest.
Now an independent police inquiry has been launched after a family member close to Lally allegedly abused Veitch one night in Ponsonby, saying she had seen the police evidence and that Veitch was going "down".
A witness confirmed the fracas to the Herald on Sunday.
In a statement, Auckland police communications manager Noreen Hegarty said: "I am aware that the IPCA [Independent Police Conduct Authority] has received a complaint about alleged abuse of the accused by a member of the public and are investigating."
Hegarty confirmed Lally was assigned investigative duties while working from "time to time" on the Veitch inquiry. She said she was never permanently on the case.
"She will not be assigned any further duties related to the Veitch investigation."
Hegarty confirmed Dunne-Powell "sought informal advice from Detective Lally on matters. She was referred to the FST [police Family Safety Team] by Detective Lally".
Hegarty said there were no official protocols in place in regards to police officers who might know complainants. However, "if there's a perceived conflict of interest, then that's notified to the person who needs to be notified".
She would not say if that happened in this instance - her statement says the officer in charge of the police Family Safety Team was aware that the women were acquaintances, but does not say when this information was disclosed.
"It is not unusual for complainants to seek out police whom they know or know of in order to be able to get some free and informed advice about personal issues or matters of concern," said Hegarty. "For example, officers who live in small communities often know the complainants and offenders in alleged crimes and deal professionally with both when carrying out inquiries."
A spokeswoman for Veitch, Glenda Hughes, said yesterday: "We are disappointed and it gives us cause for concern."
Lally refused to comment. Dunne-Powell said: "We used to do the same gym class and I see her there very occasionally and that's the extent of me knowing her."
The Herald on Sunday is aware of at least two people who have been questioned by Lally over the allegations against Veitch, who was last week voted best sports presenter for the second straight year by TV Guide readers.
A British-based New Zealand woman - who was friends with Dunne-Powell and Veitch - said she was sent an email by Lally, asking "pointed" questions about Dunne-Powell's relationship with Veitch.
Lally's questions were: "When you were in contact with Kristin did she make any disclosures to you about their relationship? Were you aware of any violence in their relationship? Did you notice any bruising on Kristin? If so where on her body and what was the explanation she gave you for the bruising?"
The woman told Lally that she was never aware of, or witness to, any violence in their relationship and that she never saw any bruising on Kristin.
"I'm wondering if they have ignored my statement because I don't think it was of use to them."
Another woman, who also knew the couple, said she felt Lally was aggressive and tried to pressure her to make a statement. She told Lally that she had not seen any acts of violence.
Veitch is facing seven charges in relation to alleged assaults against Dunne-Powell.
Meanwhile, a witness has spoken of an incident in which a family member close to Lally allegedly verbally abused Veitch while he was socialising in Ponsonby late last year.
"It was kind of along the lines like 'I've read the scripts, I've read the evidence and you're going down' ... It took me back a bit, I thought god [she] is out of control."
Veitch's ex linked to cop on his case
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