Man bit student 'like a dog'

Jonathan Woodgate denies all charges

A witness has told the trial of two Leeds footballers how she saw a man bite a student on the cheek "like a dog".

The barmaid told Hull Crown Court how she looked on as the man was bitten as he lay senseless on the ground.

Leeds United stars Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer are alleged to have taken part in an attack on 21-year-old Sarfraz Najeib, who was left with a fractured leg and cheekbone.

It was a bit like a dog the way he was biting him - it was as if he was trying to rip off his cheek or something

Witness

The 22-year-old witness, who cannot be named, was in Mill Hill, Leeds, on her way home from work when she said she saw a group of five or six Asians run past, closely chased by three white males.

She said a brawl started between the two groups and two other white males ran round the corner and joined in.

She said: "I couldn't believe it. It was a bit like a dog the way he was biting him.

"It was as if he was trying to rip off his cheek or something. It was horrible.

'Asians scattered'

"There was a huge brawl going on at the bottom of Mill Hill.

"I noticed an Asian boy on the floor. He was lying there still."

Sarfraz Najeib suffered a broken cheekbone

She said the other Asians scattered and the five white men carried on kicking and punching the man on the floor.

She said: "They were kicking him about the head and body, mainly the head.

"He was just lying there still, not moving."

England defender Mr Woodgate, 21, of Middlesbrough, under-21 international Mr Bowyer, 24, of Leeds and co-accused Paul Clifford and Neale Caveney, both 22 and from Middlesbrough, deny causing Mr Najeib grievous bodily harm with intent.

They also deny affray in the incident shortly after midnight on 12 January last year.

A fellow bar worker of the woman, a 21-year-old man who was walking home with her, has told the jury that Mr Woodgate and Mr Bowyer were the two men who ran round the corner after the others and joined in the attack.

The jury also heard he had picked out Mr Clifford at an identity parade as the man who he had seen biting the victim's cheek.

The trial continues.