This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-29947289
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd murder plot charge 'dropped' | AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd murder plot charge 'dropped' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The drummer of hard rock group AC/DC, Phil Rudd, is no longer being charged in New Zealand with attempting to arrange murder, his lawyer has said. | The drummer of hard rock group AC/DC, Phil Rudd, is no longer being charged in New Zealand with attempting to arrange murder, his lawyer has said. |
| The charge was dropped because of insufficient evidence, the lawyer said. | |
| Mr Rudd, who was born in Australia, will still face charges - announced on Thursday - of possessing drugs and making threats to kill. | Mr Rudd, who was born in Australia, will still face charges - announced on Thursday - of possessing drugs and making threats to kill. |
| AC/DC had earlier issued a statement saying its planned tour would not be affected by news of the charges. | AC/DC had earlier issued a statement saying its planned tour would not be affected by news of the charges. |
| The band is one of the highest grossing music acts of all time. | |
| The murder plot charge against Mr Rudd has been dropped just a day after it was announced. | |
| On Thursday, he appeared in court after a police raid on his waterfront house in Tauranga, on New Zealand's North Island. | |
| On Friday, a spokesman for the prosecutor told the Associated Press news agency that there was not enough evidence to support the charge. | |
| Mr Rudd's lawyer, Paul Mabey, said the "charge alleging an attempt to procure murder should never have been laid". | |
| The BBC's Jon Donnison in Sydney says the episode will prove embarrassing for the New Zealand police. | |
| Mr Rudd, 60, was released on bail after his brief court appearance on Thursday. | |
| As part of his bail conditions, he was told he must not contact anyone involved in the alleged murder plot. | |
| Local media reports said at the time that the alleged plot targeted two men. The judge ruled that their names as well as that of the alleged hit-man could not be revealed. | |
| Under New Zealand law, the charge of attempting to "procure" a murder carries a jail sentence of up to 10 years. |