Fight may end Clint Brown's career

Clint Brown at his home in Red Beach after his fight outside a Taupo takeaway bar. Picture / Bradley Ambrose

TV3 sports presenter Clint Brown is now fighting for his career after allegations he abused people during a drunken night out in Taupo that ended with him getting bashed.

The Weekend Herald last week revealed the incident that put Brown in hospital and witnesses have since come forward complaining about behaviour that allegedly included abusing a Maori woman taxi driver.

TV3 assigned a private investigator to find out what happened and stood Brown down from duty.

Brown, whose left eye socket was broken, refused to comment this week, claiming amnesia. "Because of concussion and amnesia, I just can't remember anything so I can't," he said. "I cannot defend myself because I cannot remember anything. All I can say is no comment."

The Weekend Herald has learned Brown's drunkenness concerned Taupo police to the extent that they are looking to see if there were any breaches of the liquor licensing laws in serving him.

"We want to know how somebody could get as intoxicated as has been reported," said Senior Sergeant Tony Jeurissen. "We're looking at the roles and responsibilities of the licensed premises."

Brown had spent the Wednesday night at an A1 Grand Prix function in Taupo.

Mr Jeurissen said police were also looking at the incident to see if there was any need for further action against Brown and anyone else involved but were yet to make a decision.

Police were reviewing closed-circuit camera footage of the night and had not yet identified the person alleged to have hit Brown.

Mr Jeurissen would not comment when asked if Brown had made any approaches in an attempt to apologise.

It is understood Brown has contacted police to "extend" an olive branch and tell them that his memory was affected not by alcohol but by amnesia.

Brown gave his version of events to the Sunday News newspaper in which he said he was "king hit" from behind by two men and kicked in the head.

This was later contradicted by witnesses who said he was punched by a woman's partner after abusing her.

It is understood Brown believes he has been the subject of a smear campaign by others at TV3 and is readying himself for a battle to save his job.

A TV3 spokesman said the incident was now an employment matter and declined to comment.