Jacket bloodstains 'matched brother'

Sarfraz Najeib suffered a broken cheek and leg

Bloodstains on a jacket Leeds midfielder Lee Bowyer handed to police matched the brother of street attack victim Sarfraz Najeib, a court heard.

Forensic scientist Mark Bates told the jury at Hull Crown Court that two bloodstains on the right sleeve of Mr Bowyer's black Prada jacket matched the DNA profile of Shahzad Najeib.

Mr Najeib's 21-year-old brother Sarfraz suffered a broken cheek, leg and other injuries in an attack in Leeds city centre in January last year.

These two bloodstains were made by a surface stained with that blood coming into direct contact with the jacket

Mark Bates
Forensic scientist

Mr Bates said the chances of the blood being from anyone other than Shahzad Najeib were one in a billion.

"In my opinion these two bloodstains were made by a surface stained with that blood coming into direct contact with the jacket," he said.

Both brothers were in a group of Asian men involved in a confrontation outside the Majestyk nightclub.

Shahzad Najeib was punched in the face by one of the group.

Mr Bates, an expert in blood who works for the Home Office, said a smear of blood found on the back of Mr Bowyer's jacket had been DNA tested and matched that of one of the accused, Neale Caveney.

Charges denied

He said clothing recovered from Leeds defender Jonathan Woodgate, including shoes, a jumper and trousers had also been tested and showed no sign of bloodstaining.

Mr Bowyer, 24, of Leeds, Mr Woodgate, 21, of Middlesbrough, Paul Clifford and Mr Caveney, both 22 and from Middlesbrough, are accused of assaulting student Sarfraz Najeib in Mill Hill in January last year.

Lee Bowyer has had surgery on a broken nose

The four all deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Najeib, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire. They all also deny affray.

Mr Bowyer arrived for the fifth week of the trial with his nose heavily bandaged and protected by a plaster following surgery last week.

His nose was broken two weeks ago in Leeds's Premier League clash with Manchester United.

Mr Bowyer needed surgery after reporting suffering breathing difficulties from the injury.