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| AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd murder plot charge dropped | AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd murder plot charge dropped |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Australian drummer of hard rock group AC/DC, Phil Rudd, has had a charge of attempting to arrange a murder dropped in New Zealand. | The Australian drummer of hard rock group AC/DC, Phil Rudd, has had a charge of attempting to arrange a murder dropped in New Zealand. |
| He will still face charges of drugs possession and making threats to kill. | He will still face charges of drugs possession and making threats to kill. |
| The U-turn by authorities, announced less than 24 hours after Mr Rudd appeared in court, was because of a lack of evidence, his lawyer said. | |
| Paul Mabey said the charge should never have been laid, and that his client was considering "any possible remedies". | |
| He added that Mr Rudd had suffered "incalculable" damage from the publicity surrounding the allegation and its sensational reporting. | |
| Mr Mabey described the drug charges as "minor" offences and said the musician would defend the charge of making threats to kill, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail. | |
| 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 band is one of the highest grossing music acts of all time. |
| 'Family man, not hit man' | |
| On Thursday, the 60-year-old musician appeared in court after a police raid on his waterfront house in Tauranga, on New Zealand's North Island. He was released on bail and told he must not contact anyone involved in the alleged murder plot. | |
| But on Friday, prosecuting lawyer Greg Hollister-Jones said his office had reviewed the case and found there was "insufficient evidence to proceed with the charge of attempting to procure murder". | But on Friday, prosecuting lawyer Greg Hollister-Jones said his office had reviewed the case and found there was "insufficient evidence to proceed with the charge of attempting to procure murder". |
| 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. | |
| The "intended hitman" told The New Zealand Herald newspaper he believed the matter had been blown out of proportion. Describing himself as a "family man", not a hitman, he said the charges against Mr Rudd - whom he considered a friend - were simply "hot air". | |
| The BBC's Jon Donnison in Sydney says the episode will prove embarrassing for the New Zealand police. | The BBC's Jon Donnison in Sydney says the episode will prove embarrassing for the New Zealand police. |
| Mr Rudd is next due in court on 27 November. AC/DC is launching its new album on 2 December. | |
| The drummer was kicked out of the band in 1983 and rejoined in 1994. | |
| But his absence from a recent photo of band members prompted online speculation about whether he was still in the band. | But his absence from a recent photo of band members prompted online speculation about whether he was still in the band. |
| Profile: AC/DC | Profile: AC/DC |