NZ: Former sports broadcaster faces seven charges

New Zealand

Former New Zealand radio and television sports personality Tony Veitch has vowed to “strenuously” defend six charges of assault and one count of injuring with reckless disregard.

He said in a statement outside the Auckland  district court this afternoon

“While I am shocked and also saddened that it has got this far, in terms of all the allegations and the charges, I am more determined than ever to fight to clear my name,”

The former One News sportsreader said there were two sides to every story and declined to answer questions from the media.

Police earlier issued a release saying the 34-year-old had been arrested and charged with six counts of male assaults female and one count of injuring with reckless disregard.

The charge of male assaults female carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment for each count, while injuring with reckless disregard carries five years.