Soccer stars to face second trial

Jonathan Woodgate and teammate Lee Bowyer face a second trial in the autumn

HULL, England -- Two Leeds United footballers charged with attacking a student will have to face a retrial, a judge has ruled.

The decision was made on Tuesday, a day after an eight-week trial collapsed following the publication of an article in a Sunday newspaper.

The new trial will be held in Hull starting on October 8.

On Monday, the judge at Hull Crown Court, Mr Justice Poole, said a story in the national Sunday Mirror newspaper had created so serious a risk of prejudice to the trial that it was impossible to continue.

He then dismissed the 11-strong jury on what was the fourth day of its deliberations.

England international Jonathan Woodgate, former England Under-21 captain Lee Bowyer, and two friends, Neale Caveney and Paul Clifford, are charged with grievous bodily harm and affray following an attack on Sarfraz Najeib.

All the men have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The jury was discharged after deliberating for more than 21 hours over three days in a trial which had cost £8 million ($11.5 million).

Fellow Leeds United player Michael Duberry walked free from court last Thursday after the jury found him not guilty of conspiracy to pervert justice. Woodgate was also found not guilty on the same charges.

Najeib, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was left unconscious following an attack by a group of men near the Majestyk nightclub in Leeds, North England. He also suffered a broken leg and fractured cheekbone.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Hull Crown Court

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