A nightclub doorman told the Leeds United footballers' trial today how one of a group of Asian students punched a friend of Leeds defender Mr Jonathan Woodgate in the face.
Mr Graham Lawson told Hull Crown Court that the Asian students had been "taking the mick" out of Woodgate's group after one of them was ejected from the Majestyk club in Leeds city centre for being drunk.
Mr Lawson said Mr Woodgate had come out of the nightclub and was trying to calm down the member of his group who had been ejected - identified in court as Mr James Hewison.
As he did so, the Asian students, including 20-year-old Mr Sarfraz Najeib, whom the footballers are accused of later beating unconscious, allegedly came out of the club.
Mr Najeib is alleged to have been violently attacked and kicked unconscious in a street a short distance away by a group which the prosecution says included Mr Woodgate, Leeds midfielder Mr Lee Bowyer and Leeds reserve team striker Mr Tony Hackworth.
Mr Woodgate, 21, of Middlesbrough; Mr Bowyer, 24, an England Under-21 international, of Leeds; Mr Hackworth, 20, a reserve team striker of Leeds; and Neale Caveney and Paul Clifford, both 21, of Middlesbrough deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Najeib of Rotherham, South Yorkshire. They also deny affray. PA