The murder-for-hire charges against AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd have been dropped, his lawyer announced on Friday.
"I was advised by the Crown Solicitor Hollister-Jones that he had reviewed the police file and the available evidence to support the charge of attempting to procure murder," attorney Paul Mabey QC said in a statement cited by the New Zealand Herald. "He had formed the view that there was insufficient evidence to justify that charge. He has now withdrawn the charge."
Rudd had been charged with attempting to procure the murders of two men after police searched his home on Thursday. He was also accused of threatening to kill and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis.
The latter two charges against the 60-year-old rocker remained.
The attorney said Rudd planned to defend himself against the accusations of threatening to kill, but brushed off the drug charges as "minor," according to Stuff.co.nz.
Mabey also suggested that the drummer would consider suing authorities over the allegations.
"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," he said, according to TNZ. "The damage to Mr Rudd is incalculable."
Rudd, born Phillip Hugh Norman Witschke Rudzevecuis in Australia, joined AC/DC in 1975 and played on many of the band's biggest hits. He was fired in 1983, then re-joined in 1994. In September, Rudd told Blabbermouth he expected to tour with AC/DC after the release of the band's upcoming album, "Rock or Bust."
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