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AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd pleads guilty to threatening to kill

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AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd stands in the dock at a court in Tauranga, New Zealand, Tuesday, April 21, 2015. (Christine Cornege, AP)
AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd stands in the dock at a court in Tauranga, New Zealand, Tuesday, April 21, 2015. (Christine Cornege, AP)


Tauranga - AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd pleaded guilty in a New Zealand court on Tuesday to a charge of threatening to kill a man who used to work for him. He also pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine and marijuana.

Rudd faces up to seven years in prison on the threatening to kill charge, although his lawyer Craig Tuck said the prosecution case boils down to an angry phone call, and he is seeking a remedy that would involve no legal consequences for Rudd.

Rudd acknowledged in a court summary of facts that he'd offered large amounts of cash, vehicles and a house to an associate after asking him to have the victim "taken out" and that he'd also directly said to the victim he was going to kill him.

The 60-year-old drummer was released on bail pending a June sentencing hearing.

Rudd arrived at the Tauranga court house in a sports car wearing sunglasses and a red tie, and didn't say anything during his brief appearance other than to enter his guilty pleas.

It's unclear whether Rudd has a future with the Australian rock band he's been part of on-and-off for almost four decades. The band intends to use Welsh drummer Chris Slade for its upcoming Rock or Bust album tour but hasn't said if that's a long-term arrangement.

By agreeing with prosecutors to enter the guilty pleas, Rudd avoided the need for a trial which was due to begin on Tuesday. Prosecutors agreed to drop a second charge of threatening to kill. Earlier, citing a lack of evidence, prosecutors had dropped a murder-for-hire charge.

(Photo: AP)

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