Standing room only in Veitch court room

Tony Veitch. Photo / NZPA

Tony Colin Veitch has always been larger than life. And for the past nine months, he has been the biggest show in town.

The rising radio and TV star was used to the limelight. But its harsh glare intensified as the early allegations of assault led to an admission that he "lashed out", then the eventual police investigation and criminal charges.

The news of a guilty plea added to the media frenzy as the long-running saga came to its climax.

Nearly 30 reporters and photographers swarmed to a car that pulled up outside the Auckland District Court in the mistaken belief that Veitch had arrived.

The door opened to reveal Mark Sainsbury, from TVNZ's Close Up. He was later joined by TV3 rival John Campbell in a sign this was big news.

It was standing room only inside the courtroom as journalists jockeyed for position and lawyers from unrelated cases poked their noses through the court door.

Veitch's media minder Glenda Hughes sat at the back, with gossip columnist Bridget Saunders nearby and detectives guarding the empty seat where Kristin Dunne-Powell would sit in the front row.

Across the room, Veitch's wife Zoe Halford sat with her parents Paul and Glenys Halford.

She gave her husband a hug and kiss when he arrived with his lawyer Stuart Grieve, QC, while Morgan Powell waited patiently for his wife to appear.

All eyes were on Kristin Dunne-Powell as she walked across the room to her husband - except for Veitch, who stared straight ahead, then bowed his head.

In a loud voice, Veitch pleaded guilty to one charge of injuring with reckless disregard. In layman's terms, he kicked his former girlfriend in the back while she lay on the ground.

Now, it was her turn to be heard. Dressed in a black dress, heels and a white top, she read her victim impact statement while her husband dabbed his eyes with a growing pile of tissues.

She told the court of the intense pain of the January 2006 attack which left her bruised and with two spinal fractures.

From time to time Ms Halford, arms folded, looked across at Dunne-Powell. The gaze was never returned.

Kristin Dunne-Powell left the building by a back door, while Veitch fronted up to the spotlight once more.

Then he was whisked away. The show was over.