Soccer: Preventing aid 'is assault on student'

Lee Bowyer is guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to an Asian student even if he did not lay a finger on him, a jury has been told.

Nicholas Campbell QC, prosecuting, told Hull Crown Court the Leeds footballer attacked Shahzad Najeib as his brother Sarfraz was being kicked and beaten senseless.

Mr Campbell said that by stopping Shahzad from helping his 20-year-old brother, Bowyer "gave assistance" to the gang attacking Sarfraz.

Anyone shouting encouragement at the gang was also as guilty as those who actually carried out the savage attack, he said.

During the seven-week trial the jury has been told that Bowyer stopped Shahzad from helping his brother, and in the process got some of the 21-year-old's blood on his jacket.

A forensic scientist has told the court that there was a one in a billion chance of the blood on Bowyer's designer leather jacket not having come from Shahzad.

Mr Campbell said: "Shahzad was attacked as he went to the aid of his brother. We submit that the attack on Shahzad was in order to prevent him from interfering with the attack on Sarfraz.

"Anyone who took part in the attack on Shahzad was also taking part in the attack of Sarfraz by keeping away the enemy who might interfere."

Shahzad Najeib, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, suffered facial injuries during the alleged attack in Mill Hill, Leeds, in January last year. During his evidence, he told the jury he was punched to the ground and then hit again, causing an injury to his ear.

Jonathan Woodgate, 21, of Middlesbrough, team-mate Bowyer, 24, of Leeds, and Neale Caveney and Paul Clifford, both 21, of Middlesbrough, deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Najeib.

They also deny affray.

Michael Duberry, 25, of Leeds, and Woodgate, Clifford and Caveney also deny conspiracy to pervert the course of justice after the attack.