Soccer: Student punched Leeds footballer's friend, jury told
An Asian student punched a friend of Leeds United footballer Jonathan Woodgate during trouble in the city centre, a court has heard
Nightclub doorman Graham Lawson told the Leeds footballers' trial a group of Asian students had been "taking the mick" after one of Woodgate's friends was ejected from the Majestyk club for being drunk.
Mr Lawson said Woodgate had come out of the nightclub and was trying to calm the man who had been ejected, identified in court as James Hewison.
As he did so, the Asian students came out of the club, one of whom the footballers are accused of later beating unconscious.
"They stood to watch and were taking the mick," said Mr Lawson. "The lad in the leather jacket who had been ejected saw them laughing at him. "
He told Hull Crown Court Woodgate had pulled his friend away, but the Asian group had continued laughing.
"The lad in the leather jacket then decided to run back and confront them again and started squaring up to them again," said Mr Lawson. "He confronted them and then one of them punched him in the face."
Mr Najeib is alleged to have been violently attacked and kicked unconscious in a street a short distance away by a group which, the prosecution says, included Woodgate, midfielder Lee Bowyer, and reserve team striker Tony Hackworth.
Woodgate, 21, of Middlesbrough, Bowyer 24, an England Under-21 international, of Leeds, Hackworth, 20, a reserve team striker of Leeds and Neale Caveney and Paul Clifford, both 21, of Middlesbrough, deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Najeib of Rotherham, South Yorkshire. They also deny affray.
Woodgate, Caveney and Clifford, and Leeds United player Michael Duberry, 24, also plead not guilty to conspiring to pervert the course of justice after the attack in January last year. The case continues.
