New Facts Emerge In PHIL RUDD Case

According to the New Zealand Herald, the lawyer for estranged AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd claimed in a New Zealand court that the rocker's conviction on charges of threatening to kill and possession of marijuana and methamphetamine conviction would result in losses in the tens of millions of dollars that would have came from Rudd being able to tour with AC/DC. The prosecutors, meanwhile, cast doubt on this assertion, pointing out there was no direct evidence that Rudd was still a member of the band.

Rudd's lawyer claimed while there was "uncertainty" about his place in AC/DC, it was "certainly not a closed door". The prosecutors, however, countered Rudd was not a member of AC/DC even before he was arrested in November.

Rudd was sentenced to eight months of home detention in New Zealand's Tauranga District Court Thursday after pleading guilty to charges of attempting to "procure a murder" and drug possession. He faced up to seven years behind bars.

When his first solo effort, "Head Job", flopped, Rudd reportedly threatened a former employee. A month later, Rudd told an associate that he wanted him to "take out" his personal assistant, whom he then called and verbally threatened, allegedly saying, "I'm going to come over and kill you."

Rudd offered $200,000 and a choice of vehicles and house as payment to kill the assistant, according to reports. When police raided his home in Tauranga, New Zealand, they found methamphetamine and other drugs.

Other insights surrounding the case included the revelation that Rudd had tested positive for cannabis in December, the New Zealand Herald reports. The drummer also claimed that the threats he made to his former employee were the result of "methamphetamine-induced psychosis."

Rudd has since reconciled with his would-be victim and agreed to pay him a substantial sum of money in reparation.

The drummer's attorney said Rudd had described the issues that stemmed from his drug use had resulted in "perfect storm" that "impacted heavily on those around me."

Rudd's son submitted an affidavit to the court which said in part that his father "has a heart of gold and wouldn't hurt a fly. It's just when the drugs take over, he behaves how he taught me not to."

While Rudd initially denied the allegations, he submitted a guilty plea in April. Under the sentencing, he will be monitored for eight months and required to complete a rehabilitation program.

Judge Thomas Ingram told Rudd that there "was nowhere to hide" and that if drugs or alcohol were found in his system, he would face jail time.

Ingram continued: "QUEEN replaced Freddie Mercury, and your band is touring without you now."

Rudd's lawyer has confirmed to Radio NZ that an appeal had been lodged against the musician's eight-month home detention sentence.

Rudd played with AC/DC for 30 years and performed on AC/DC’s new album, "Rock Or Bust". Chris Slade, who played with AC/DC from 1990 to 1993, was announced in February as the group's drummer for its current world tour.