AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd charged with plotting murder of two people

[Teh One Who Knocks]

FOX 411


http://i.imgur.com/qvFmFq7.jpg

Phil Rudd, the drummer for legendary Australian rock band AC/DC, has been charged in New Zealand with attempting to arrange the murders of two people.

The New Zealand Herald reported that the 60-year-old appeared in court Thursday morning in Tauranga, on the country's North Island. The paper reported that he was also charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of cannabis, and making threats to kill. Rudd entered no plea in connection with the charges and was released on bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 27.

Rudd was arrested Thursday morning after police raided his waterfront home. Tauranga Police Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier told the SunLive news outlet that the search was ordered after a member of the public contacted authorities, but had no further details. Rudd was ordered to have no contact with the man he allegedly hired to carry out the murders. The name of the alleged hitman and the would-be victims were ordered suppressed by the case judge.

The BBC reports that under New Zealand law, Rudd could receive up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of the charge of attempting to procure a murder.

The Herald reported that Rudd has lived in New Zealand since 1983, when he was fired from AC/DC. He rejoined the group in 1994.

Earlier this year, AC/DC revealed that founding member Malcolm Young would no longer perform with the band due to dementia. Young is being treated at a Sydney care facility.

The group was formed in 1973 by Malcolm Young and his brother Angus and have sold more than 200 million albums around the world. Among those is their 1976 album "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap," the title track of which features a hitman offering his services to people in desperate situations.

[Goofy]

Wonder who'll be drumming on their tour next year :-k

[deebakes]

:rip:

[DemonGeminiX]

Of course they name the song, as if they're trying to imply that it had something to do with this.

[PorkChopSandwiches]

:lol:

[Goofy]

Of course they name the song, as if they're trying to imply that it had something to do with this.

Looks like it's the Highway to Hell for him now though :(

[Teh One Who Knocks]

He did have pretty Big Balls to try and arrange a hit :-k

[Goofy]

He did have pretty Big Balls to try and arrange a hit :-k

Yep, it was a Touch Too Much unfortunately :(

[Goofy]

Weird coincidence - i watched an interview/documentary on Sky Arts last night of Brian Johnson......... then this news is on the radio this morning :lol:

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Yep, it was a Touch Too Much unfortunately :(

He's going to need to keep a Stiff Upper Lip if he wants to get thru all this now

[Goofy]

He's going to need to keep a Stiff Upper Lip if he wants to get thru all this now

Yeah, he better Play Ball :thumbsup:

[PorkChopSandwiches]

Sounds to me like he may have been a Problem Child

[Goofy]

He'll have to be Hard As A Rock to survive prison at his age :-k

[PorkChopSandwiches]

Well you know in prison, moneytalks

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Daniel Piotrowski for Daily Mail Australia and Australian Associated Press and Leesa Smith


The murder charge against AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has been dropped, the Tauranga Crown Solicitor has confirmed.

Rudd's lawyer Paul Mabey QC said Crown Solicitor Greg Hollister-Jones had made his decision because there was insufficient evidence to justify the charge.

'The charge alleging an Attempt to Procure Murder should never have been laid. The Crown Solicitor's opinion was not sought,' Mr Mabey said in a statement.

'The charge is now withdrawn - within 24 hours of Mr Rudd's first appearance in court.'

On Thursday, the 60-year-old musician was charged with attempting to procure murder, threatening to kill and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis and appeared in court following a police raid on his North Island home in New Zealand.

Mr Mabey said he would defend the threatening to kill charge and that the drugs charges were 'minor'.

Mr Mabey added that Rudd had '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'.

If found guilty of threatening to kill, Rudd could face a maximum seven-year prison sentence, The New Zealand Herald reported.

He will reappear in court on November 27.

Earlier, the man allegedly hired as a hitman by Rudd said he was asked to become his bodyguard after the rocker said he was threatened for not paying 'working girls'.

The alleged hitman, whose name has been suppressed, told The Sydney Morning Herald in an exclusive interview, that Rudd was the 'Hugh Hefner of Tauranga' claiming that the amount he spent on 'company is like someone's yearly wage'.

The man told Fairfax Media: 'The girls that he gets, working girls and that, they're p***ed off, he tells them "Nah I'm not paying you" and then the partners come and say they want their money.'

The Daily Telegraph reported that the man went on fishing and helicopter trips with Rudd who also allowed him to drive his flashy sports cars.

He added that although Rudd was burning his bridges with those 'who care about him' he was still a 'good fella' with a 'big heart'.

'You’ve got to feel sorry for him – just the expectations everyone has of him,' he said.

When Daily Mail Australia contacted the band's ex-manager, Michael Browning, he had only just heard the news and said it was a 'bit of a shock, but there you go'.

A statement on the band's website said: 'We've only become aware of Phil's arrest as the news was breaking.

'We have no further comment. Phil’s absence will not affect the release of our new album Rock or Bust and upcoming tour next year.'

The ageing rocker was silent during a brief, shoeless appearance in Tauranga District Court that afternoon and has been released on bail until his next appearance on November 27.

According to court documents, Rudd is accused of attempting to hire one person to kill two others between September 25 and September 26.

He is also accused of threatening to kill a complainant on September 26.

Details of the complaints and the names of the alleged intended targets and hitman were suppressed by Judge Louis Bidois.

At the request of defence lawyer Tony Rickard-Simms, Rudd was remanded on bail until November 27 when he will reappear in court.

His bail conditions include that he lives at his Bureta home on the North Island and not contact any of the complainants.

Biographer Jesse Fink, author of the new book, The Youngs: The Brothers Who Built AC/DC, said he was 'stunned, absolutely stunned'.

Mr Fink told Daily Mail Australia Rudd had 'deteriorated' in recent years.

'You go back and you see photos of Phil from the '70s, he's a beautiful man, a very handsome man.

'To see someone deteriorate as much as he has is quite alarming.'

The Australian-born drummer has lived in Tauranga for a number of years.

He first moved to New Zealand in 1983 after being sacked by the band, but hooked up with the band again in 1994.

Rudd was noticeably absent from some promotional material and photographs for AC/DC's 16th studio album, Rock or Bust, which will be released in Australia on November 28.

His absence sparked rumours among fans that something was going on.

'I don't think AC/DC did themselves a great service by not saying anything,' Mr Fink said.

'All they did was just fuel the rumour mill, which has been churning for some time now.

In 2011, he opened a restaurant there, Phil's Place, which The New Zealand Herald described as 'upmarket'.

Rudd also released a solo album, Head Job, in September.

[deebakes]

:facepalm:

[Goofy]

:cheerlead:

[Hal-9000]

wow..the ol gang is breaking up :(

first the guy with dementia and now this with the drummer...

[Hal-9000]

He did have pretty Big Balls to try and arrange a hit :-k


Yep, it was a Touch Too Much unfortunately :(


He's going to need to keep a Stiff Upper Lip if he wants to get thru all this now


Yeah, he better Play Ball :thumbsup:


Sounds to me like he may have been a Problem Child


He'll have to be Hard As A Rock to survive prison at his age :-k


Well you know in prison, moneytalks


In prison at night.... he will probably be Back in Black or a Whole Lotta Rosie :-k

[Goofy]

In prison at night.... he will probably be Back in Black or a Whole Lotta Rosie :-k

:tumble:

[Hal-9000]

:sad2: I can never hang out with the clever kids