KEY POINTS:
Kristin Dunne-Powell dealt first with a tabloid journalist, then informally with the police, before negotiating a $150,000 payout from Tony Veitch that required her to keep silent about his alleged attack.
Ms Dunne-Powell was in contact with Stephen d'Antal, a New Zealand-based journalist who has broken a number of local and international celebrity exclusives, in the months after the January 2006 incident at Veitch's St Heliers home.
In March last year Mr d'Antal gave Ms Dunne-Powell his written assurance that "nothing you may reveal to me about your relationship with Tony Veitch will be published or disclosed to any third party without your prior written agreement".
That July, Ms Dunne-Powell sought "informal advice" from the Auckland City police family violence team. Police set up an appointment for Ms Dunne-Powell to make a formal complaint in December - but she did not turn up.
Veitch began receiving emails and texts from Ms Dunne-Powell about compensation while he was away covering the Rugby World Cup in France.
He told his employers at TVNZ and Radio Sport of this on his return, with Ms Dunne-Powell being paid out in the lead-up to his February wedding to Zoe Halford. The letter from Mr d'Antal was produced during the negotiations.
Veitch's close friend Paul Hancox told the Weekend Herald that shortly after his engagement to Zoe last year, her multimillionaire father Paul Halford received an anonymous letter making allegations about the incident.
"Tony has made a mistake and he's up to that. But the New Zealand public has got to realise there is a lot gone on that people do not know about and it is unfortunate that some of it can't come out," Mr Hancox said yesterday.
Ms Dunne-Powell could not be contacted, but her father, Stephen Dunne, said there was a reason why Kristin did not go to the police until 18 months after the incident, but it was "private".
"My daughter is the innocent one in all this. Believe me, she is an angel, this girl of mine," Mr Dunne said.
His daughter and the family had been "fighting journalists off" and she would "definitely not" have sent the anonymous letter to Mr Halford.
Mr Dunne said neither Kristin nor anyone in his family had leaked the story to the media.
"Someone or something has let this out and they are the people who have got to answer for what's happening. You tell me who it was and we'll all know. It is somebody who is out to nail Tony and we didn't do it - we're innocent."
Ms Dunne-Powell has told others that she waited 18 months to go the police because she suffered a breakdown and required counselling. The counsellor put her in contact with police, but she ceased this once negotiations began with Veitch.
Mr d'Antal declined to comment yesterday.
THE STORY SO FAR
Jan. 2006: Tony Veitch allegedly attacks ex-girlfriend Kristin Dunne.
March 2007: Dunne and journalist Stephen d'Antal are in contact about her relationship with Veitch.
April 2007: Dunne marries Morgan Powell.
July 2007: Dunne-Powell seeks "informal advice" from police.
August 2007: Veitch's fiancee Zoe Halford's parents get anonymous letter making allegations about the incident.
October 2007: Veitch receives communications asking for compensation while at Rugby World Cup.
December 2007: Veitch tells TVNZ executives about the demands and "fracas".
January 2008: Veitch pays Dunne-Powell $150,000 in settlement that includes a confidentiality agreement.
July 2008: Story breaks. Police start investigating, Dunne-Powell makes formal complaint, Veitch quits TVNZ and Radio Sport.
