Murder-for-hire charge against AC/DC drummer now dropped, still faces other accusations

Phil Rudd, the drummer of legendary rock band AC/DC, is no longer being charged with attempting to hire a hitman, for which he was arrested this week. However, he still faces charges of allegedly threatening to kill, and for possession of methamphetamine and cannabis, The New Zealand Herald reports.

Rudd's attorney Paul Mabey, announced in a statement that the prosecutor's office had determined there was not sufficient evidence to justify the charge by police of attempting to procure a murder:

Rudd is now out on bail, though confined to his home, and has his next court date on Nov. 27. The Herald also reports that the charges are a surprise to one of his neighbors: "I even see him out mowing the lawn for the elderly lady next door, so he's a pretty down-to-earth guy."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up