Soccer: Footballers jury sent home for weekend

The jury in the Leeds United footballers trial has been sent home until Monday.

Mr Justice Poole discharged them until next week without any further verdicts being returned.

The jury is considering charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and affray against Leeds players Jonathan Woodgate, 21, and Lee Bowyer, 24, and Woodgate's friends Paul Clifford and Neale Caveney, both 21.

The seven men and four women had been deliberating for just over 21 hours over three days when the judge decided to halt proceedings until 10.30am on Monday.

The four accused have all pleaded not guilty during an eight-week trial at Hull Crown Court.

The four are accused of beating and kicking 20-year-old student Sarfraz Najeib, of Rotherham, following a confrontation and chase in Leeds city centre in January last year.

The jury returned not guilty verdicts yesterday on a charge of conspiracy to pervert justice against another Leeds player, Michael Duberry, 25, and on Woodgate, Clifford and Caveney.

The jury had earlier questioned the judge about one of the witness statements.

Jurors wanted to know when a statement from a witness to the attack in Mill Hill was made and whether it was before press coverage identifying Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer as suspects.

The judge, Mr Justice Poole, told the jury the witness statement was made on the day of the attack and there had been no coverage until the arrest of the two players six days later.