Star's brother guilty of attack
The brother of footballer Sol Campbell was warned he faced jail today after being found guilty of attacking a university classmate who suggested the England and Arsenal defender might be gay.
John Campbell punched and kicked his victim senseless, shattering his jaw and several teeth during a training session at a local football club in February 2004.
Mark Golstein, 26, told London's Snaresbrook Crown Court he was set upon without warning a week after mentioning rumours about the player's sexuality during a lecture.
The jury of six women and five men took two-and-a-half hours to unanimously convict Campbell, of Manor Park, east London, of causing grievous bodily harm.
It cleared him of an alternative charge of GBH with intent.
Judge David Richardson adjourned sentencing for reports, but warned Campbell: "You have to understand that you face the prospect of a custodial sentence."
Campbell had denied the charges, insisting he had only defended himself after the other man struck the first blow.
It was the second trial he had faced on the charges, after a jury trying him in December was discharged after spending more than six hours attempting to reach a verdict without success.
Mr Golstein, a student at the University of East London, was taken to hospital with two fractures to his jaw, four broken teeth and "extensive" bruising, cuts and grazes to his head and body after the attack at the Clapton FC training session which left him unconscious.
The jury was told the "unprovoked" assault came after Mr Golstein mentioned rumours that Sol Campbell was gay during a university discussion on things that "could hold you back in sport" which John Campbell attended.
Prosecutor Nick Rhodes put it to Campbell that he gave his victim "a very, very good seeing to".
The six-footer told the court he had acted in self defence on the football pitch after Mr Golstein had told him: "Your brother's gay, he's f gay isn't he?" and threw the first punch.
Mr Golstein denied he had made the comments.
