November 23

November 23, 2001 (Friday) from sportinglife.com

"Several possible sources" of blood

Two small smears of blood found on the designer leather jacket of football star Lee Bowyer after a street attack could have been picked up from several sources, a court heard on Friday.

The prosecution at the footballer's trial at Hull Crown Court claimed Bowyer took part in a savage attack on student Sarfraz Najeib in Mill Hill, Leeds, after a chase from the Majestyk night-club.

Midfielder, Bowyer, 24, is also been accused of clashing with the victim's brother, Shahzad as he went to the aid of Sarfraz.

Tests revealed two small smears of blood, which matched Shahzad's on the right cuff of the footballer's black Prada jacket.

Bowyer, a former England under-21 international, denies taking part in any attack or chase and claims he never went in to Mill Hill that night.

A forensic biologist, Mark Webster told the jury that it was "possible" Bowyer may have picked up the blood from someone in a group that the footballer claims "jostled" him as they came round Mill Hill.

Desmond de Silva QC, for Bowyer, said there was also evidence that the footballer and Shahzad fell in Boar Lane and Shahzad suffered a grazed leg.

Mr Webster said: "The blood stains could have been caused by the wearer of the jacket falling on to the ground where there was a small amount of Mr Najeib's blood sitting there."

A third possibility was "secondary transfer" said Mr Webster, in which Bowyer was in contact with the person who assaulted Shahzad soon after the street fight.

Asked by Mr de Silva if Bowyer picked up the blood by being in direct contact with the victim's brother or by secondary transfer, Mr Webster replied: "It could be either."

Bowyer, of Leeds, his Leeds United team-mates Jonathan Woodgate, 21, of Middlesbrough and Paul Clifford and Neal Caveney, both 22 and from Middlesbrough, all deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Sarfraz Najeib, 21, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire. The four defendants also deny affray.

Sarfraz suffered multiple injuries, including a broken nose, fractured leg and bite marks to his right cheek in an attack in Mill Hill in January last year.

Clifford told the jury he was out in Leeds with his long-time friends from Middlesbrough, Woodgate, Caveney and two others.

He said it was a "typical lads night out" and he was "merry" when the group got to the Majestyk nightclub.

The jury was told Clifford left the club when one of his friends, James Hewison, was thrown out.

He said: "As I came out, there was James Hewison stood there holding his eye. In front of him was a group of Asians. They were arguing with him, taunting him."

Clifford told the jury that he pulled Hewison away and heard people chanting Woodgate's name. People then set off running towards the Queen's Hotel, he said.

Among those running was Woodgate, who Clifford said had a distinctive run.

Clifford told the court that he followed the group and was behind everyone because a new pair of shoes made him "hobble".

He said: "As I reached the top of Mill Hill, there was Jonathan and Neale stood at the top and a lot of fighting going on down the road.

"A lot of shouting and screaming."

Clifford said that he then approached Woodgate and Caveney and said: "Are we going? It's nothing to do with us."

Nigel Sangster QC, for Clifford, asked: "The prosecution case is that you went down Mill Hill and you joined in the attack and you bit Sarfraz Najeib. Did you do that?"

Clifford: "I did not. No, not at all."

The trial was adjourned until Monday.

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