AC/DC Drummer Phil Rudd Arrested in New Zealand for Attempting to Arrange a Murder, Threatening to Murder and Drug Possession (Update: Tauranga Crown Solicitor Withdraws Attempt to Procure Murder Charge)

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap …

60 year old Phil Rudd, the longtime drummer of AC/DC, has been arrested in New Zealand for allegedly trying to have two men killed and charged with attempting to “procure” a murder. Rudd was also charged with possession of methamphetamine and cannabis and threatening to kill. According to the charges by police, Rudd had tried to get two men killed,  their names and that of the intended hitman were all suppressed by the judge. Rudd has yet to enter a plea and is due back in court again on November 27.

AC/DC – Guns For Hire

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.

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 on November 27th 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.

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd on New Zealand murder plot charge, Band comments:

AC/DC are due to release a new album later this year.

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.”

UPDATE I: Phil Rudd, AC/DC drummer, has most serious charge in alleged New Zealand murder-for-hire plot withdrawn.

A New Zealand crown solicitor withdrew the most serious charge against AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd on Thursday, dropping the attempting to procure murder charge in an alleged murder plot involving “working girls.”

A disheveled Rudd, 60, appeared “thunderstruck” in Tauranga District Court on Wednesday, hours after his waterfront mansion was raided by police and faced several charges, including threatening to kill as well as possession of methamphetamine and cannabis.

Paul Mabey, Rudd’s attorney, said in a statement that an overzealous New Zealand police investigation pushed their case without consulting Tauranga Crown Solicitor Greg Hollister-Jones, who agreed Thursday to strike the attempting to procure murder charge.

“The charge alleging an Attempt to Procure Murder should never have been laid,” Mabey said. “The Crown Solicitors opinion was not sought. The charge is now withdrawn — within 24 hours of Mr. Rudd’s first appearance in court.”