Chelsea striker Sam Kerr has been found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment after calling a Metropolitan Police officer “stupid and white” during an incident in Twickenham, southwest London, on January 30, 2023.
A jury at Kingston Crown Court cleared the 31-year-old Australian international after four hours of deliberation. Kerr did not deny using the words but argued that her remarks did not amount to a racial offence. She maintained that she was “antagonised” by officers and was attempting to highlight the power dynamics at play during the confrontation.
The incident occurred after Kerr and her fiancée, Kristie Mewis, had been out drinking. A taxi driver took them to Twickenham Police Station, alleging they refused to pay cleaning fees after one of them was sick in the vehicle and that one of them had broken the car’s rear window.
Following the verdict, Kerr gave a thumbs-up to her legal team before leaving the courtroom with Mewis.
Judge Peter Lodder KC acknowledged that Kerr’s own behaviour played a significant role in the situation, stating, “I don’t go behind the jury’s verdict, but that has a significant bearing on the question of costs.”
During the trial, Kerr expressed regret over her choice of words but defended the intent behind her comments. “I feel the message was still relevant,” she said, adding that she believed the officers were exercising their “power and privilege” over her.
It was revealed that Kerr’s legal team had attempted to get the case dismissed, arguing that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had mishandled the process. They claimed that a “loophole” was used to justify the prosecution nearly a year after the alleged offence.
PC Stephen Lovell, the officer involved, initially did not report feeling distressed by Kerr’s comments. However, in December 2023, nearly a year later, he submitted a second statement claiming he felt “shocked, upset, and humiliated.” The charge against Kerr was subsequently authorised.
With the jury’s decision, Kerr has been cleared of any wrongdoing, bringing the controversial case to a close.
