Charge against AC/DC drummer Rudd dropped

New Zealand authorities made an embarrassing about -face yesterday when prosecutors dropped a murder-for-hire charge against AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd, saying there was not enough evidence to proceed.

However, the member of the popular Australian band, 60, still faces a serious charge of threatening to kill, which comes with a maximum prison term of seven years. He also faces charges of possessing methamphetamine and marijuana.

Police initially accused Rudd of trying to arrange for a hitman to carry out two killings, and had charged him with attempting to procure murder, which comes with a maximum 10-year sentence. But when prosecutors took over the case, they quickly dropped the charge.