A New Zealand prosecutor has withdrawn murder-for-hire charges against AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd due to lack of evidence.  Rudd still faces charges of threatening to kill and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis.

Phil Rudd’s lawyer Paul Mabey QC said, “I was advised by the Crown Solicitor Hollister-Jones that he had reviewed the police file and the available evidence to support the charge of attempting to procure murder.  He had formed the view that there was insufficient evidence to justify that charge. He has now withdrawn the charge.”

The unidentified man named in the original court documents as the alleged hired killer told the New Zealand Herald he believed the cops had blown the matter out of proportion.   He says he’s a “family man”, not a hitman, and any alleged murder plot that Rudd may or may not have discussed was simply “hot air”.

Earlier, AC/DC said word of Rudd’s arrest would have no effect on the band’s plans to tour in 2015.