Brown off air pending inquiry

Clint Brown

TV3 broadcaster Clint Brown will be off the air for at least two weeks while the network investigates the circumstances surrounding a Taupo assault that left him with a broken eye socket.

TV3 spokesman Roger Beaumont said an investigation was launched after the network received information about the incident, which is being treated as an employment matter.

It has been reported that Brown was sitting down to have a hamburger when he was hit in an unprovoked attack. He is also said to have spoken to police but did not lay a complaint because there was little chance of the offenders being caught.

However, Brown's version of events has been challenged by witnesses who say he was drunk, aggressive and was hit only after knocking over a man's wife.

Brown - who had been at dinner in Taupo discussing the A1 Grand Prix motor race - is also alleged to have made obscene comments to a Maori taxi driver.

Kazbar owner Peter Paul said Brown turned up at his bar on Wednesday night with a group of friends but was denied entry as he was considered too drunk.

Mr Paul suggested two of his regular patrons take Brown across the road to get a burger.

"I thought, you can't come in here but let's look after him."

After finishing the meal witnesses said Brown started swearing and abusing nearby Maori women.

Mr Paul saw Brown get punched to the ground and kicked and rushed across the road to break it up. He spoke to witnesses who said Brown was swearing a lot and was told to calm down before the attack.

Brown allegedly charged at a man, knocking his wife down in the process. The man knocked him to the ground.

"The guy that knocked him over warned him four or five times to tone it down and then when Clint decided to attack him he knocked his wife down in the process. If Clint Brown hadn't knocked his wife over I don't think the guy would have assaulted him."

Mr Paul said he was concerned Brown's actions would now reflect badly on Taupo, which was unfair because the town was safe to visit.

"This isn't about me or the man who knocked him down, it's about Clint Brown bringing disrepute to Taupo. That's the issue."

Brown was yesterday receiving specialist treatment in hospital for his injuries.

Yesterday TV3 said Brown and two people he was with that night had denied allegations that he was drunk and abusive. However it also admitted Brown's stance was at odds with that of Taupo locals.

Mr Beaumont said neither TV3 nor Mr Brown would be commenting further until the completion of the investigation, which was expected to take up to two weeks.