It was touch and go for about 24 hours there. News outlets around almost every time zone made some sort of Dirty Deeds wisecrack about AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd’s being arrested on multiple charges, including attempting to hire someone to kill two men.
The Daily Mail says that one of the men Rudd was trying to have whacked is an MMA fighter. They call him a “ninja martial arts fighter.”
But now the news comes that the charge against Rudd is being dropped. In fact, the Crown Solicitor of Tauranga, New Zealand where Rudd was charged said that their was “insufficient evidence” for the charge to have been brought in the first place.
Rudd’s attorney pounced.
“The charge alleging an attempt to procure murder should never have been laid. The Crown Solicitor’s opinion was not sought. The charge is now withdrawn – within 24 hours of Mr Rudd’s first appearance in Court,” Paul Mabey said. “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”
Of course, the “attempting to procure a murder” charge is only one of four that Rudd faced. Rudd is also charged with threatening to kill, possession of methamphetamine and possession of cannabis.
But one wonders if a rock star threatening someone and carrying drugs would have been such a newsworthy item. Sure, it could have gotten him arrested. But it took the charge of hiring a hit man to launch that news around the globe.
Rudd, who was born Phillip Hugh Norman Witschke Rudzevecuis, just released a solo album, as well as an upcoming album from AC/DC, which he is to tour behind. It remains to be seen how the remaining charges will affect his ability to tour and promote either album.