Australian football star Sam Kerr, captain of the Matildas and forward for Chelsea, is currently on trial at Kingston Crown Court in London, facing charges of racially aggravated harassment.
The charges stem from an incident on January 30, 2023, involving a dispute with a taxi driver and subsequent interactions with police officers.
Here is all you need to know about the Sam Kerr Court trial.
Sam Kerr Court Trial: Background and Incident Overview
On the night in question, Kerr and her partner, Kristie Mewis, hailed a black cab from central London back to their home in south-west London after a night out.
During the journey, Kerr began to feel unwell and vomited out of the window, sparking a dispute with the driver over cleaning fees.
The couple claim that the driver then locked the car doors and began speeding and swerving erratically, causing them to fear for their safety. In response, Mewis broke a window with a kick to escape.
Unbeknownst to them, the taxi driver had already called the police, who advised him to drive to Twickenham Police Station. Upon arrival, Kerr crawled out of the broken window and opened the car door from the outside to let Mewis out.
The pair then approached a marked police car outside the station, seeking assistance.
After approaching the police for help, Kerr is accused of directing abusive language toward PC Stephen Lovell, allegedly calling him “f***ing stupid and white.”
Prosecutors argue that this constitutes racially aggravated harassment, emphasizing that such language is legally prohibited in the UK.
Kerr’s Defense and Testimony
During the trial, Kerr strongly denied using “whiteness as an insult” and explained her comments in court:
“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.”
Kerr’s defense, led by attorney Grace Forbes, argued that the handling of the situation by police was “completely unacceptable.”
Forbes pointed out that the first “20 vital minutes” of Kerr and Mewis’ encounter with police were never captured on camera. Body-worn footage presented in court only begins when Kerr and Mewis are already inside the police station.
“Two individuals went straight up to a marked police car looking for help in a state of distress. How and why did we go from that to what was an utterly unproductive, heated argument?”
She further questioned why none of the officers activated their body-worn cameras when they saw a woman climbing out of a broken window and making allegations of false imprisonment.
Current Status
As of February 10, 2025, the jury has retired to deliberate on the verdict. The case has garnered significant attention, with discussions about Kerr’s role as a national team captain, racial dynamics in law enforcement, and the broader implications of the incident. The outcome remains pending.
