Rudd admits threatening to kill

Tauranga rock icon Phil Rudd has pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a person.

Rudd, 60, also pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and cannabis when he appeared in Tauranga District Court today.


Phil Rudd arrived at court dressed in a jacket, tie and jeans. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

The former AC/DC drummer was due to appear for a judge alone trial on four charges – two counts of threatening to kill, and one each of possession of methamphetamine and possession of cannabis.

Instead, he admitted the three charges and prosecution withdrew the second threatening to kill charge.

According to the summary of facts, Rudd launched his solo album on August 29, 2014, and lost it when the album was not well recieved.

He sacked employees who worked at his restaurant, Phil's Place, at the Bridge Marina.

Rudd made a call to an associate in Australia and said he wanted the victim taken out. He called his associate again and offered $200,000, a motorbike, one of his cars or his house which the associate took as payment for taking out the victim.

On September 26, Rudd called the victim and threatened to kill him. He asked if the victim was in and when he replied yes, Rudd said: 'I'm going to come and kill you you f*****g c**t”.

Rudd made several other phone calls to the victim, but when the victim realised who it was he terminated the call.

Police raided Rudd's Bureta home on November 6 and found 0.487grams of methamphetamine and 91grams of cannabis.

Rudd initially denied possessing the drugs and making the phone calls.

Speaking to SunLive outside the court today, Rudd's lawyer Craig Tuck said this matter was just essentially an angry phone call.

'That resulted in the police getting a search warrant for, believe it or not, possession of cannabis own use and possession of a cellphone,” says Craig.

'They turned up at his home - nine police officers, a dog and the media. Police charged him with attempting to procure murder, which was immediately dropped, and today another charge has been dropped.”

No convictions have been entered and Judge Robert Wolff remanded Rudd on bail until June 26.

Craig intends to apply for a discharge without conviction on this date.




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17 comments

Well

Posted on 21-04-2015 11:55 | By NZgirl

Nice car Phil


Which planet...

Posted on 21-04-2015 11:55 | By penguin

...does Rudd live on? He pleads guilty to a high level serious charge of threatening someone


Nice car

Posted on 21-04-2015 12:04 | By YOGI BEAR

Class act indeed


Let's wait and see

Posted on 21-04-2015 13:32 | By BullShtAlert

America has an interesting justice system where it seems lawyers and money rule. Let's see if NZ is the same.


ANOTHER discharge?

Posted on 21-04-2015 13:58 | By seaweed1965

Wasn't he previously discharged without conviction on his prior appearance for possession of drugs? Just because you play the Rock Star game, with all its trappings, doesn't mean you shouldn't receive the same consequences us "normals" get under the same rules.


Rastus

Posted on 21-04-2015 14:20 | By rastus

Many people make silly statements in the heat of the moment - The guy was very obviously in a pretty zonked frame of mind - I doubt he could actually knock the skin off a rice pudding. He is no mate of mine (or his music for that matter) I see it as very much ado about nothing. In the cold light of day the guy has coughed up for his stupidity - enough said!


What Planet

Posted on 21-04-2015 14:30 | By Kancho

Well what planet are people on who comment whenever someone well known ends up before the court. We only get the media slant which is often not all the story at all. Seems if you have more fame (and money etc) it gives people the right to make judgements without all the facts and obviuosly feel they are more qualified than a judge to pass sentence. I don't know him but it seems because he is famous he doesn't get to have due process before the law like anyone else.


Rock icon?????

Posted on 21-04-2015 15:07 | By Jimmy Ehu

come again, oh well the things that happen when you want jobs done dirt cheap.


I'm confused!!!

Posted on 21-04-2015 17:20 | By FunandGames

Rudds lawyer says this all about "an angry phone call". Read the above article and count the phone calls. Was only one of the calls of a threatening nature? Not by my count.


Oh Kancho

Posted on 21-04-2015 21:52 | By penguin

I strongly suggest that you read the reports in all the papers and elsewhere, that have carried this story before you wax eloquent with your pious comments. Rudd, the one who committed the crimes, is in the best position to know the truth and he has pleaded guilty. That is a fact. It has nothing to do with being moneyed or famous. He did wrong and is facing the punishment for his folly. It is nothing more or less than Jo Bloggs doing the same thing. Anyway - what other "facts" are in your possession that gives you licence to criticise?


Rustas

Posted on 22-04-2015 04:20 | By Kenworthlogger

Yes most normal people make silly statements in the heat of the moment. Rudd did this several times and actually gave a way as payment $200000, a motorbike, one of his cars or house which his associate accepted to carry out the hit. How can that be nothing Rastus? He ordered and paid for a hit!


Comit the crime and do the time!

Posted on 22-04-2015 06:57 | By monty1212

To get a discharge without conviction in this particular case makes a total mockery of the justice system.


GIVE THE GUY A BREAK

Posted on 22-04-2015 09:04 | By glass1/2 full

Plenty of our "top" sports people get a break from convictions - they might hinder their freedom to travel abroad! why should this man be treated any different? he may want to travel abroad playing in band.


Really

Posted on 22-04-2015 13:05 | By Bronzewing

A guy down south tells someone he is going to kill his children, the mother goes to the Police who dismiss it as hear say. The children die and he tops himself. Mr Tuck needs to grow up and stop trivializing Rudd's behaviour with his sidewalk grandstanding. Rudd has pleaded guilty. He has done the crime, do the time.


Why the vitriol

Posted on 23-04-2015 08:37 | By Kancho

Well Penguin I guess do not indulge in schadenfruede. I do read but I do try not to judge other peoples lives and situations as I am perhaps not so perfect to make such judgement, perhaps you think that is pious. I just don't believe in trial by media or opinion. In a jury one listens to all the information and weigh the facts, this is somewhat missing by just reading the paper don't you think?I have a bit more faith in the court to decide than to jump to conclusions or be critical of the court before it even makes a ruling. it is good he pleaded guilty to save the courts time and expedite the process to get on with his and our lives.


Cuckoo nest territory

Posted on 23-04-2015 08:38 | By kellbell

This clown has already had 2 discharges without conviction does he or his mouthpiece seriously expect to get another 3 in this case- hope springs eternal I guess.If so the public will be really peeved off and will be looking straight at the judge. LOL


Drifting and Dreaming

Posted on 27-04-2015 15:40 | By ROCCO

Yep already 2 discharges this lot would make it 3 4 & 5 a full house.Pleaded guilty -probably summary of facts a bit user friendlier than the complainants evidence would be in court.Can feel a world tour or furthering professional career coming on here.


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