A young Asian student broke down in tears today as he told a court how he heard his friend being attacked by a group of men alleged to include three Leeds United footballers.
The student, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the jury at Hull Crown Court that he had been on a night out with the alleged victim, Mr Sarfraz Najeib, in January last year when they were involved in a confrontation outside a city centre nightclub.
The witness said that inside the Majestyk nightclub he had noticed a man he recognised as Leeds defender Mr Jonathan Woodgate with a group of men.
Mr Woodgate and fellow players Mr Lee Bowyer and Mr Tony Hackworth are alleged to have been among the group that chased Mr Najeib and his friends before a violent assault in which he was kicked and punched unconscious.
Mr Najeib's friend claimed that as they left the club he noticed Woodgate leaning against railings outside.
There were also a group of seven or eight men nearby, one of whom allegedly said something to Mr Najeib's brother, Shahzad.
The witness said he next heard a scream and saw Mr Sarfraz Najeib holding his head, before running up to one of the group and seeming to punch one of them.
The witness said: "I panicked and I ran towards where we had parked the car. I feared they would attack us. I was really scared. I thought they would come after us and get us."
He said he ran into a fast food shop in Mill Hill and asked staff to contact the police and while inside the takeaway he heard more screaming outside, the jury was told.
The student also said he had witnessed the attack on Mr Najeib's brother, Shahzad.
Mr Woodgate (21), an England international, of Middlesbrough; Mr Bowyer (24), of Leeds; Mr Hackworth (20), a reserve team striker, of Leeds; and Mr Neale Caveney and Mr Paul Clifford, both 21, of Middlesbrough deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Najeib, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire. They also deny affray.
Mr Woodgate, Mr Caveney and Mr Clifford, with Leeds United player Mr Michael Duberry, 24, also plead not guilty to conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
PA