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AC/DC DRUMMER PHIL RUDD PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG POSSESSION AND THREATENING TO KILL CHARGES

The New Zealand Herald are reporting that AC/DC’s Phil Rudd has pleaded guilty to methamphetamine and cannabis possession and threatening to kill charges in a New Zealand court this Tuesday morning, April 21st 2015.

A second threatening to kill charge was dropped.

Phil remained silent in court except when asked to enter his plea and also refused to answer questions as he left the courthouse. He was remanded on bail by Judge Robert Wolffe, with his existing bail conditions, until sentencing on June 26th.

According to court documents, police found 0.478 grams (0.017 ounces) of methamphetamine and 91 grams (3.21 ounces) of marijuana during a November 6th 2014 raid on Phil’s home, a raid which was conducted after he was accused of threatening to kill an associate and his daughter during a phone call in September.

New Zealand prosecutors claim that on the morning on September 26th 2014, Phil made two phone calls. During the first call he allegedly “spoke about what he wanted done” to an unnamed man who had been working for him for three years.

The second call was allegedly to the unnamed man himself and it was during this call that prosecution claims Phil “threatened to kill him and his daughter.”

“This matter essentially revolved around an angry phone call — that was it,” Phil’s lawyer Craig Tuck said outside court.

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“Nine police officers, a dog and media turned up at Phil Rudd’s home, the home was turned over, and police subsequently charged him with attempting to procure a murder.

“That was immediately dropped, and today we have seen another charge dropped.”

Phil’s originaly scheduled February 10th appearance in a New Zealand court to address charges of threatening to kill and drug possession was delayed until today because Phil’s previous lawyer quit the case. Attorney Paul Mabey stepped away on what he described as “amicable” terms but he did not elaborate on his reasons for leaving, saying, “It’s just a professional decision that we have made.”

Phil’s current lawyer, Craig Tuck, has “appeared in some of New Zealand’s highest-profile cases acting for entertainers,” according to LawAid.co.nz.

So Phil finds out his fate on June 26th and we’ll bring you the news as soon as it breaks. Let’s hope that the judge finds it in his heart to spare him from a lengthy jail sentence.

AC/DC have already begun their Rock Or Bust world tour and announced Chris Slade as drummer for this tour earlier this year.

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