LEEDS STARS' TRIAL COLLAPSES
The jury had been deliberating over a verdict on the assault charges levelled against the players, plus Neale Caveney and Paul Clifford, after deciding that Michael Duberry was not guilty of perverting the course of justice.
The four men, Woodgate, Bowyer, Caveney and Clifford, faced charges of Grievious Bodily Harm and intent, and Affray, but Justice Poole was concerned that some of the jurors had been exposed to the media.
"This article is seriously prejudicial," he told the jury, before discharging them.
The 11-strong jury had been considering their verdict for 21 hours, over three days of discussions, but the fact that some of them admitted to breaking the code of conduct with regards to cases has proved crucial.
Sarfraz Najeib was the subject of the alleged assault following an incident outside the Majestyk nightclub in Leeds city centre, last January, and the case against the two Leeds stars has seriously hampered their international aspirations with England.
The Sunday Mirror carried an interview with Najeib's father which some of the jury members subsequently read, scuppering the trial, which has cost a reputed £8 million.
Mr Mohammed Najeib had stressed he felt the attack was racially motivated and this "deeply concerned" Justice Poole, who claimed that all of the effort put into the trial had been derailed.
A request to undertake a re-trial will be made by the prosecution at 9.45am on Tuesday morning, but it may take between four and six months for this to take place, and this would perhaps even further limit Woodgate and Bowyer's prospects of playing in the 2002 World Cup finals.
Justice Poole indicated that a re-trial could be agreed to, stating: "I am in no doubt that, with the passage of time, proceedings could be resumed."
