Tauranga rock icon Phil Rudd has been sentenced to eight months home detention.
Rudd was unsuccessful in his bid to be discharged without conviction.
Phil Rudd stand in the docks of Tauranga District Court. Photos: Tracy Hardy.
Rudd applied for a discharge without conviction on the basis a conviction would prevent him from travelling to Japan, Canada, and the US to tour with AC/DC.
Judge Thomas Ingram sided with the crown prosecution saying there was no evidence to suggest he was with the band anymore or going forward.
The 61-year-old appeared in Tauranga District Court today for sentencing after being arrested back in 2014.
Judge Ingram has also ordered rehabilitative restrictions.
During an appearance in April, Rudd, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a person, possession of methamphetamine and cannabis.
Earlier this year he was set to defend the charges at a judge alone trial.
However, when he appeared in court on April 21, Rudd entered guilty pleas on the three charges.
A second count of threatening to kill was withdrawn by the prosecution.
According to the summary of facts, Rudd lost it after his solo album failed to take off on August 29, 2014.
Court documents say Rudd also made a call to an associate in Australia and said he wanted a person 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.
Rudd arriving in court to an onslaught of media this morning.
Craig Tuck, Rudd's defence lawyer, says the matter was just essentially an angry phone call.
'That resulted in police getting a search warrant for, believe it or not, possession of cannabis own use and possession of a cellphone.
'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.”
Back in February, AC/DC replaced Rudd with drummer Chris Slade for their Rock or Bust Tour, which is scheduled to kick-off in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on August 22.
6 comments
So...
Posted on 09-07-2015 12:18 | By penguin
...it would appear that a 'slap on the wrist with a wet bus ticket' has been replaced with a modern version - an electronic bracelet!!! One wonders, yet again...
Chopper?
Posted on 09-07-2015 13:38 | By YOGI BEAR
How useful is that? If hovering in the same spot then the ankle bracelet will look just fine to the authorities.
Mr Rudd
Posted on 09-07-2015 14:01 | By surfsup
An angry phone call with bad language nobody hurt and home detention. But if you are an all black, name suppression discharge without conviction, Prominent Auckland businessman convicted of hitting his son, name suppression discharge without conviction.so can somebody please explain how the system works.
surfsup
Posted on 09-07-2015 14:57 | By penguin
I suggest you look at the charges brought against Rudd and to which there were guilty pleas. You may see that they are somewhat more serious than the cases you mention. Having said that, one does sometimes wonder at the sentences handed down in other cases.
He is a loose unit no doubt...
Posted on 09-07-2015 15:32 | By Calling the truth
I hope this will give him a wake up call about where he really is at this stage in his life. Too old to be doing hard drugs and making these sort of decisions. Too much money can lead to very poor decision making in the wrong hands. I predict in five years he will be a broken man with very little to his name if he doesnt change. Hope he gets back on track
Waste of Time and money!
Posted on 09-07-2015 17:45 | By captainbirdseye
If this was a comment made in anger in anywhere else than NZ, no one would bat an eyelid, especially from a harmless old rocker like Phil Rudd. Jesus what an overkill, 9 cops and a police dog turn up to arrest the old boy, not exactly worlds most wanted terrorist! The drugs found were probably not enough for him to make a decent Spliff! Total waste of taxpayers, legal system and taxpayers dollars as usual! He's totally harmless and should be treated as such! Anyway as you will have to stay indoors for next 8 months Phil, can I borrow your lovely GTR, promise to look after it!! Honest
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