Whether he is guilty or not, after all the malicious innuendo he spread about Graham Kennedy and Hookesy, about time he got a bit of his own medicine back.
Suffer
Derryn Hinch accused of sex assault
Paul Anderson and Jordana Borensztajn
31mar06
It's pure malice and it's vindictive. It's a litany of lies – Hinch
RADIO broadcaster Derryn Hinch has become embroiled in a sex scandal after a former business partner claimed he sexually assaulted her.
Also: Hinch gutted by sex claims
Plus: Hinch's history of headlines
In a counter-attack last night Hinch, a journalist with a hatred of sex offenders, claimed he was blackmailed by the woman who wrote to him demanding money for her silence.
The alleged victim was interviewed for about 10 hours on Wednesday by detectives from the sex crimes squad.
It is believed she claimed Hinch assaulted her in a bed at his St Kilda Rd apartment about 12 months ago.
"The girl didn't know what to do," a spokesman for her legal firm said.
Hinch last night angrily denied all allegations made by the woman.
The claims were "absolute rubbish", he told the Herald Sun.
"I feel gutted. It's pure malice and it's vindictive. It's a litany of lies," he said.
"It's a business relationship which has gone sour. The alleged issue was never raised for more than a year even though we socialised several times."
Hinch, recently married for the fourth time, said he received a letter from the woman stating she wanted money in return for her silence.
"I received a demand for a substantial amount of money. In return, all allegations would be dropped and the police would not be involved," he said.
"I regarded it as blackmail and went to police a month ago."
It is believed Hinch reported the matter to St Kilda police.
Just hours after the story broke on Channel Seven, Hinch was out on the town for Rhonda Burchmore's new cabaret show at Crown.
Last night at the Palms, Hinch told the Herald Sun he hadn't considered giving up his social plans because of the allegations.
"No, not at all," he said.
"I needed a bit of comic relief. I've got nothing to be ashamed of so I'm not going to go and hide. I'll take it head-on.
"It's just not true."
Hinch said he would offer listeners further details through today's radio program.
"I'll explain a hell of a lot," he said. "It won't be a good program -- I find it distasteful -- but it has to be done."
Sources close to Hinch last night questioned why the woman had not reported the alleged crime to the same police station on the night. The police station is within 100m of Hinch's home.
Sources said that before the woman had contacted Hinch with her alleged demand for money, she had written to his accountant suggesting she was considering making a complaint.
The Herald Sun believes that Hinch, when he learned of the woman's threats to go to the police, informed 3AW management and police.
Hinch said the allegations came after he poured nearly $100,000 into a business deal with the woman and started asking for a return.
A spokesman for the alleged victim's legal firm, W.P. Edwards Solicitors, said the alleged incident came before attempts at mediation over "a number of issues", believed to be business related.
He said Hinch refused to attend any mediation.
"She's never wanted money," the spokesman said. He said police were notified on Wednesday and the allegations were never used during the planned mediation process.
Hinch's lawyer Nick Pullen, from Holding Redlich, said the media had previously been contacted over the allegations.
He said the alleged victim had been threatened in writing with defamation proceedings over those approaches.
Hinch was seen with his new wife, Chanel, in the city on Wednesday night.
He was relaxed and smiling but appeared to have lost weight after a spell in hospital over an undisclosed illness.
Hinch has enjoyed a colourful radio and print career. He has been sacked 14 times in his 45 years in journalism.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,18662212%255E661,00.html
