AC/DC's Phil Rudd Arrested for Attempting to Procure a Murder

[line-em-up]

By Jason Newman | November 5, 2014

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd was arrested in New Zealand on Thursday morning local time and charged with attempting to procure a murder, as first reported by Stuff.co.nz. A member of the Tauranga Central division of New Zealand Police confirmed Rudd's arrest to Rolling Stone, but did not provide any additional details. According to Stuff, Rudd allegedly tried to have two as-yet-unidentified men killed and was also charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of cannabis and threatening to kill.


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The longtime drummer appeared in Tauranga District Court on Thursday afternoon local time and was released on bail. He is due back for his next hearing in three weeks and faces up to 10 years in prison on the murder-for-hire charge if convicted. New Zealand police have yet to reveal any details behind Rudd's arrest or who were the intended victims. According to New Zealand news outlet The Sun, Rudd was "accused of procuring murder" between September 25th and 26th.

The drug charges pertain to a raid on the 60-year-old drummer's house conducted by police on Thursday.

A spokesperson for the group was not immediately available for comment.

Last month, a new press photo of the group was released featuring frontman Brian Johnson, bassist Cliff Williams and guitarists Angus and Stevie Young. Asked why Rudd was not included in the photo, a spokesperson for the group told Rolling Stone at the time that the drummer was unable to make the photo shoot but was still an active member of the band.

It's unclear how Rudd's arrest will affect the group's upcoming 2015 world tour. The band had been prepping for a December 2nd release of Rock or Bust, their first record in six years and first without founding rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, who left the band earlier this year due to dementia. The band debuted the first song to come off the album, "Play Ball," online in October.

Rudd became AC/DC's drummer in 1975 and stayed with the band until 1983, moving to Tauranga after leaving the group. He rejoined AC/DC in 1994 and has been a permanent member ever since.

The drummer released his debut album, Head Job, in August.


Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...#ixzz3IIIXKwr8
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[Denny]

Ya, I was about to post this. It actually happens a lot. The cases where the person gets caught is what makes the headlines.

[BradM]

Sounds like a dirty deed.

[Baron Von Crowder]

Sounds like a dirty deed.

done with sheep.

[yellowstang]

Hire someone to kill another person... Should do it yourself, if you have big balls.

[95DRGT]

of them all

[TeeShock]

Highway to jail

[mstng86]

he's gonna get thunderstruck in the ass

[mustang_revival]

he's got big balls. trying to pull that off

[01-GATOR]

They dropped the murder for hire charge

https://music.yahoo.com/news/ac-dc-drummer-accused-trying-arrange-deaths-050636907.html

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand authorities made an embarrassing about-face on Friday when prosecutors dropped a murder-for-hire charge against AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd, saying there was not enough evidence to proceed.

But the 60-year-old member of the popular Australian band still faces a serious charge of threatening to kill, which comes with a maximum prison term of seven years. He also faces charges of possessing methamphetamine and marijuana.

Police had initially accused Rudd of trying to arrange for a hit man to carry out two killings, and had charged him with attempting to procure murder, which comes with a maximum 10-year sentence. But when prosecutors took over the case, they quickly dropped the charge.

"The file was obtained today and reviewed," Tauranga Crown Solicitor Greg Hollister-Jones said in a statement Friday, adding he had "made the decision that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the charge of attempting to procure murder."

Rudd's lawyer, Paul Mabey, said the damage to his client had been incalculable and he was considering possible remedies.

"The charge alleging an attempt to procure murder should never have been laid," Mabey said in a statement, adding, "Mr. Rudd has suffered unnecessary and extremely damaging publicity as a result of widespread and sensational reporting of a very serious allegation, which on any basis was never justified."

Mabey said Rudd would defend the other charges against him.

Bill Hodge, a law professor at the University of Auckland, said the events suggested police had overreached.

"Usually you'd expect police to lay a basic charge, a holding charge," he said. "Then, maybe when they've got more witnesses and evidence, they could go for a more complicated charge. I don't understand the rush."

Hodge said Rudd could have a good case for seeking financial damages if the case against him fell apart altogether, but he may have little recourse if convicted on the threatening to kill charge.

Police on Friday declined interview requests.

[mustang_revival]

Heard on the radio this morning the band is quickly moving on and disassociating themselves with him.

[silverhatch]

Heard on the radio this morning the band is quickly moving on and disassociating themselves with him.

The only thing left of the band is Angus and Brian. The only original member left is Angus.

[John -- '02 HAWK]

The charges were dropped the next day, so the band may not have done anything. Apparently rudd has been spending alot of money on the local girls and its got some of their men mad