"Agreeing to the plea bargain was a real compromise," she said yesterday.
"But it was thought the best outcome for both parties."
Veitch (35) was fined $10,000, placed on supervision for nine months and ordered to do 300 hours of community work after pleading guilty in the Auckland District Court to injuring Ms Dunne-Powell with reckless disregard for her safety.
Six other charges of assault were dismissed when the Crown offered no evidence.
Ms Dunne-Powell said there was an imbalance of power in her on-again off-again relationship with the sports presenter and she felt powerless during the eight months since the story became public.
She had remained silent despite what seemed to her a media campaign giving a false impression of her.
Her side of the story had not been heard, she said.
Their relationship was characterised by Veitch's need for power and control, and influenced by his mood swings from highs to lows.
Her own confidence was affected and so was her ability to quit the relationship, until after she was admitted to hospital with a broken back.
She hoped that after Veitch's guilty plea to the highest charge, "people would realise that innocent people don't plead guilty".
In her victim impact statement read out to the court, Ms Dunne-Powell said: "I had been in an on-and-off relationship with Tony between 2002 and 2006.
My physical injuries included bruising and a fracture of my spine in two places.
"I experienced intense pain at the time of the assault and endured extreme discomfort for months afterwards."
In interviews after yesterday's hearing, Veitch said he wanted to be judged by the average New Zealander.
Looking exhausted but slightly defiant, he repeatedly stressed his desire for New Zealanders to know his version of the assault.
He told Newstalk ZB: "The statement of facts says what happened.
"I think it is up to average Joe Blow New Zealanders to look at what did happen that night and make their own decisions.
"I've never wanted sympathy.
"I hope average Kiwis will say, `the bloke made a mistake... It was inexcusable and maybe one day he'll be given a second chance'."
Before he attempts a second chance at his broadcasting career, he said he wanted to have children.
"The media ... doesn't matter any more. I just want to be happy and have kiddies. I want to be a dad.
"I'm tired. I want to wake up and go and live life again ... and know that it's over. I hope I can get back to doing what I love."
He said in a statement that the months leading up to his court appearance had been a hideous time for his friends and family.
"I say everyone, my family, everybody, you have no idea how relieved I am that this is over.
"I feel like I've let down my wife and family.
"We have lost our house where we'd planned to have our kiddies and we've had to meet the significant legal costs."
Of former partner Ms Dunne-Powell, he said he "just wanted her to be happy".
But he also said he was "disappointed" in her.
