CASSIDY - CASSIDY CONVICTED OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER

Rapper CASSIDY was convicted on involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault charges yesterday (24JAN06).

The HUSTLA rapper - real name BARRY REESE - was sentenced to a maximum of 23 months behind bars following a two-day non-jury trial at a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, court.

Judge JANE CUTER GREENSPAN said Cassidy was "grossly negligent" for supplying the firearms which killed DESMOND HAWKINS and injured BOBBY HOYLE and DANIEL IRVIN on 15 April 2005.

She told Cassidy, "You could be a leader in the community. All those guns - that's why Desmond is gone now, because of all those guns."

Hawkins, 22, was gunned down after he visited Cassidy's house in a bid to make peace after an argument had escalated out of control.

The 23-year-old told the court, "It's a tragic situation for me too. I didn't set up for this to happen. Desmond Hawkins was my friend... one of my closest friends."