Leeds United footballers Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer refused to take part in identification parades in front of a witness who claimed he had seen them take part in an assault on a young Asian student, a court heard today.
But Hull Crown Court was told that a barman who had witnessed the street attack on 21-year-old Sarfraz Najeib later picked out both the men after viewing a videotape compiled by police showing the two footballers, each alongside eight volunteers.
Acting Insp Norman Knubley told the court he had met England defender Woodgate with his solicitor in the Leeds United boardroom on February 1st last year.
The meeting was just over two weeks after the attack in Leeds city centre following a confrontation outside a nightclub.
Insp Knubley said he was handed a statement by the players' solicitor in which Woodgate said that when police first saw him six days after the attack he had told them he was happy to take part in an identification parade.
He believed the witness - who had not referred to him by name or as a Leeds United footballer - was mistaken on the night and it was an opportunity for Woodgate to confirm he was mistaken.
But Woodgate said that since then his photograph had appeared in every national newspaper and on television.
His statement said: "I am not satisfied the identification parade will not simply be confirming my identity as a football player rather than an offender responsible for this attack."
Woodgate (21) of Middlesbrough; Bowyer (24), from Leeds; and Paul Clifford and Neale Caveney, both 22 and from Middlesbrough, deny causing Mr Najeib grievous bodily harm with intent on January 12th last year. They also deny affray.
PA