Soccer: Family 'not to blame' for collapse of trial

The judge who ruled that Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer should face a retrial says the family of the alleged victim should not be blamed for the collapse of the trial.

Mr Justice Poole, who discharged the jury in the case following an article in a Sunday newspaper, says the new hearing should take place at Hull Crown Court in October.

The judge ruled that nothing further should be published or broadcast about the article in the Sunday Mirror.

But he said: "I have no criticism whatever to make of the victims or their father. It is perfectly natural that they should have their views. They were not to know those views would be published when they were.

"They don't have the awareness of the media or of the significance of such views at such a time. They are, and should not, feel anyway responsible for the difficulties that have arisen."

The trial in Hull, in its 10th week and costing in the region of £8 million, was dramatically halted and the jury of seven men and four women discharged due to the Sunday Mirror article.

The judge ruled that the second trial of Bowyer, 24, of Leeds, and Woodgate and his two friends, Paul Clifford and Neale Caveney, all 21 and from Middlesbrough, will start on October 8.

Clifford's counsel, Nigel Sangster QC, said the re-trial would be vigorously opposed.

He said: "A fair trial before a jury with no preconceived views in this case is impossible."

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

Woodgate, Bowyer, Clifford and Caveney, all denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent and affray.