Veitch 'again attempts suicide', found after police search

Tony Veitch outside the Auckland District Court. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Broadcaster Tony Veitch, who this week pleaded guilty to injuring his former partner, is reported to have today attempted to take his own life.
 
He was the subject of a police search 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 this evening.

TVNZ reported this evening that a spokesperson close to the Veitch family confirmed the broadcaster had "made another attempt to take his life on Saturday afternoon".

It said he went into a "severe depression" following media reports in previous days that he was not remorseful for the attack on his former partner Kristin Dunne-Powell.

She suffered a fractured back when Veitch kicked her as she lay on the floor of his home in the 2006 assault to which he pleaded guilty this week.

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 Ms Dunne-Powell with reckless disregard.

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 this evening.

In court on Thursday , Veitch's lawyer, Stuart Grieve, QC, said Veitch had been deeply traumatised after the incident and had twice tried to kill himself.
Six other assault charges were dropped.

- NZHERALD STAFF, NZPA