Sigel cleared of attempted murder

Beanie Sigel was born and raised in south Philadelphia

US rapper Beanie Sigel was acquitted of attempted murder on Monday after a jury found him not guilty of shooting a man on a crowded city street in July 2003.

It was the second time Sigel - real name Dwight Grant - had stood trial for allegedly shooting Terrance Speller.

The first trial, held last year, ended with a deadlocked jury.

Mr Grant, who has had three albums in the US top five, was released from prison last month after serving 10 months for illegal gun possession.

He faces another trial for allegedly breaking a man's eye socket during a row in January 2003.

Robbery

Mr Speller told the court in Philadelphia that he had first told police he was shot during a robbery.

A day later, however, he claimed Mr Grant had shot him.

Mr Speller said he had argued with the teenage daughter of the rapper's girlfriend on the evening of the shooting.

Under cross examination, he acknowledged he had smoked marijuana and drank heavily on the night of the alleged shooting.