Rap star CASSIDY has slammed the American judicial system as "crazy", after standing trial on suspicion of murder.

The HOTEL hitmaker - real name BARRY REESE - was released from a prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, last month (MAR06) after serving eight months for involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault charges.

But despite escaping a murder conviction, the rapper has branded the US legal system a farce.

He tells MTV, "Trials are crazy, especially in Philadelphia. "The way they try to prosecute you, it's just crazy. Anybody can come and give a statement, and they'll just lock you up. The system is kinda crazy.

"(The trial) was one of the worst situations I've been through, sitting in the jail, knowing that I should be out in the street. It could go one way and you can be home again, or you could be gone forever.

"It was hard to go though it. But through my faith in God, I was able to go through it and come out a lot better than people thought." (SH/WNWCM/)