Chelsea striker Sam Kerr was found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment after an incident involving a police officer. The Australian footballer was accused of making racist remarks during a confrontation with PC Stephen Lovell at Twickenham Police Station in London.
A jury has found Chelsea striker Sam Kerr not guilty of causing racially aggravated harassment after calling a police officer 'stupid and white'. The Australian football star was charged following an incident in southwest London in the early hours of January 30, 2023. Kingston Crown Court heard that Kerr, 31, and her partner, West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis, had been out drinking when they were driven to Twickenham Police Station by a taxi driver.
The driver complained that they had refused to pay for cleanup costs after one of them vomited and that one of them smashed the vehicle's rear window. At the police station, Kerr was accused of becoming 'abusive and insulting' towards PC Stephen Lovell, calling him 'f****** stupid and white'. During the trial, she denied suggesting PC Lovell was 'stupid because he was white'. She also denied her remark amounted to the charge of causing racially aggravated harassment. Kerr told the court she 'feared for my life' as she and her partner were 'trapped' in the back of a taxi, moments before Ms Mewis smashed the vehicle's rear window.Judge Peter Lodder KC said after the verdict: 'I take the view her own behaviour contributed significantly to the bringing of this allegation. 'I don't go behind the jury's verdict but that has a significant bearing on the question of costs.' During the trial, Kerr said she regretted the way she expressed herself but added: 'I feel the message was still relevant'. She denied using 'whiteness as an insult' and claimed: 'I believed it was him using his power and privilege over me because he was accusing me of being something I'm not... 'I was trying to express that due to the power and privilege they had, they would never have to understand what we had just gone through and the fear we were having for our lives.' The court heard how Kerr and Mewis felt 'dismissed' by PC Lovell after explaining how they had been 'trapped' in the back of a taxi and 'held against our will'. Mewis smashed the taxi's rear window before the pair climbed out of the vehicle, which was parked near Twickenham police station. The court heard that at the station, Kerr, her partner and PC Lovell got into a 'heated argument', and Kerr told police 'this is a racial f****** thing'. She told the jury: 'I believed were treating me differently because of what they perceived to be the colour of my skin - particularly PC Lovell's behaviour. 'The way he was accusing me of lying, and later arresting me for criminal damage even though Kristie said it was just her (who smashed the taxi's window). 'At the time, I thought they were trying to put it on me.
Sam Kerr Chelsea Football Trial Racism Police Harassment Acquittal
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Chelsea Star Sam Kerr Calls Cop 'Stupid and White' After Taxi Fare DisputeFootage played in court shows Chelsea footballer Sam Kerr using abusive language towards a police officer after a heated altercation involving a taxi fare and a smashed window. Kerr also referenced Sarah Everard's murder, allegedly telling the officer, 'Look at what happened last year when a girl accepted a police officer’s help in Clapham and got raped and killed.'
Read more »
Chelsea Star Sam Kerr Accused of Racially Aggravated HarassmentChelsea striker Sam Kerr is on trial for allegedly racially aggravated harassment after an incident involving a taxi driver in south west London. Prosecutors claim Kerr and her partner became abusive towards police officers after being driven to a police station by a taxi driver who alleged they damaged his vehicle and refused to pay for the clean-up.
Read more »
Chelsea Star Sam Kerr Accused of Racial Abuse Towards Police OfficerAustralian footballer Sam Kerr is on trial charged with racially aggravated harassment after allegedly calling a Metropolitan Police officer 'stupid and white' during a dispute at a police station in London. The incident occurred in January 2023 following a taxi ride where Kerr and her partner, fellow footballer Kristie Mewis, were accused of causing damage and refusing to pay cleaning costs.
Read more »
Chelsea star Sam Kerr cleared of racially harassing Met officerThe Chelsea striker was charged over an incident at a London police station in 2023.
Read more »
Chelsea Striker Sam Kerr Accused of Racially Aggravated HarassmentAustralian footballer Sam Kerr is on trial for allegedly calling a Metropolitan Police officer 'stupid and white' during a dispute at a police station. The incident occurred in January 2023 following a taxi ride where Kerr and her partner were involved in a disagreement with the driver. Kerr denies intending to cause harassment, claiming she was 'very angry' at the situation.
Read more »
Sam Kerr: Met Police officer says he was 'determined to pursue' the prosecution of Chelsea footballerA Met Police officer has said he was 'determined to pursue' the prosecution of Chelsea footballer Sam Kerr after she called him 'stupid and white', a court heard.
Read more »