AC/DC's Phil Rudd's Murder for Hire Charge Dropped

Charges against Phil Rudd, the drummer for the legendary band AC/DC, have been withdrawn, according to The NZ Herald.

The 60-year-old rocker was arrested in New Zealand on Thursday morning (November 6) for allegedly attempting to arrange a murder, threatening to kill, and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis.

“The charge for alleging an attempt to procure murder should have never been laid,” Phil‘s lawyer Paul Mabey QC said in a statement. “The charge is now withdrawn. Mr. Rudd has 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.”

Phil, who was released on bail, still faces three other charges and is scheduled to return to court November 24.