AC/DC Star Pleads Guilty In New Zealand Court

The AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has pleaded guilty in a New Zealand court to charges of threatening to kill and possession of drugs.

The 60-year-old reversed an earlier not guilty plea and admitted to the charge of threatening to kill, as well as possession of cannabis and methamphetamine.

A second charge of threatening to kill, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail, was withdrawn.

The court in Tauranga heard that the charges arose from Rudd's anger at the launch of his solo album, which had not gone well.

Speaking outside court, his lawyer Craig Tuck said: "This matter essentially revolved around an angry phone call, that was it."

An earlier charge of trying to procure murder was withdrawn due to lack of evidence .

Mr Tuck is expected to seek a remedy which would involve no legal consequences for the drummer.

Under New Zealand law, a judge has the option to not enter a conviction even in cases where a defendant has pleaded guilty.

The judge can take this measure if he or she thinks the consequences of the conviction outweigh the seriousness of the crime.

Rudd has lived in Tauranga since he was sacked from the heavy metal band in 1983.

He rejoined AC/DC in 1994 but has remained in New Zealand, where he owns a restaurant.

AC/DC has sold more than 200 million albums, making them one of the biggest-selling bands of all time.