Soccer: Student's retaliation 'triggered street attack'

An Asian student allegedly attacked by two Leeds United footballers "triggered" the attack by throwing a punch, a court has heard.

Sarfraz Najeib was hit by James Hewison, a friend of Jonathan Woodgate, outside a Leeds nightclub and retaliated, the jury at Hull Crown Court was told.

Mr Najeib was then chased by a group including Woodgate and team-mate Lee Bowyer to Mill Hill, where the prosecution allege they carried out the savage attack.

In his closing speech to the jury, Nicholas Campbell QC, prosecuting, said: "That punch by Sarfraz Najeib changed everything. If he had not done it, it's likely nothing would have happened to his group."

Mr Campbell said Mr Najeib was then chased by the group "one of whom Sarfraz Najeib had had the tenacity to punch.

"We submit that this was the trigger that ignited this incident. Sarfraz was struck first. He perhaps foolishly struck back. That blow was the signal for James Hewison's group to mete out punishment."

Mr Campbell said that none of the four men accused of the attack - Woodgate, Bowyer, Neale Caveney and Paul Clifford - admitted in their evidence that they saw the incident between Mr Najeib and Mr Hewison.

"If they admitted they saw James Hewison being punched by Sarfraz Najeib they would have to go down the route of admitting that they ran because they wanted revenge," said Mr Campbell. "Their failure to tell you what really happened is the first of the lies you have heard."

Woodgate, 21, of Middlesbrough, Bowyer, 24, of Leeds, Caveney and Clifford, both 21, of Middlesbrough, deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Najeib, 20. They also deny affray. Michael Duberry, 25, Woodgate, Clifford and Caveney deny conspiracy to pervert the course of justice after the attack.

Mr Najeib, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, suffered serious injuries including a broken leg and fractured cheekbone.