Simon Rushworth
The charge of attempting to procure murder against AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has been dropped a day after he appeared in a New Zealand court.
Rudd hired Queen’s Counsel Paul Mabey to represent him and on Friday he released a statement saying Rudd’s most serious charge had been withdrawn.
“I was advised by the Crown Solicitor, [Greg] Hollister-Jones, that he had reviewed the police file and the available evidence to support the charge of attempting to procure murder,” Mabey’s statement said.
Rudd had initially been charged with attempting to procure the murder of two men.
The New Zealand-based sticksman was arrested at his home in Tauranga on November 6.
Rudd appeared in court charged with procuring murder, threatening to kill and the possession of methamphetamine and cannabis.
The drummer failed to appear at last month’s video shoot in London to publicise new album Rock Or Bust.
But frontman Brian Johnson brushed off the no-show, explaining to fans that Rudd was missing due to family reasons.
The band is due to tour throughout 2015 without founder member Malcolm Young after the guitarist was diagnosed with dementia.
But the band’s immediate future has again been thrown into doubt as Johnson and co. bid to deal with another potential hammer blow.