Sam Kerr cop slur case: Explosive new details you need to know

Court documents have revealed new details about the night Sam Kerr was arrested that could hold the key to her case.

Court transcripts have revealed explosive new detail into the night Sam Kerr was arrested over the alleged racial abuse of a police officer.

The Matilda’s captain, largely considered the best female soccer player in the world, is alleged to have called one of two police officers a “stupid white bastard”.

Kerr, 30, is said to have been sick at the back of a taxi after a night out and was involved in a dispute over the fare when police were called to the scene at Twickenham in South West London in the early hours of January 20, 2023.

Kerr, who has a $1.5m contract with Chelsea, denies intentionally causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress to the male police constable under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

The new court documents revealed several key and critical points.

KERR WAS PLACED IN A POLICE CELL

Explosive court transcripts reveal Kerr was placed in a cell after the incident.

Kerr’s barrister Grace Forbes divulged the information in a request for CCTV footage.

The sports star has been ordered to attend a committal hearing at Kingston Crown Court on February 3 next year.

Kerr’s legal team has signalled it will aim to get the case struck out of court on the grounds of abuse of process on April 26.

Sam Kerr is on a $1.5m contract with Chelsea. Picture: Getty Images

THERE’S ALLEGED CCTV FOOTAGE FROM THE COP SHOP

Forbes also revealed that there is CCTV outside the police station and inside the custody cell where Kerr was taken after the incident.
That’s in addition to alleged police bodycam footage of the incident.
Forbes said she had contacted the prosecution to ask for footage that captured the “short incident”, as well as CCTV footage outside the police station “where the contact began and within the custody suite”, where the star soccer player had been taken after the incident.

THE CCTV HAS AN EXPIRY TIME

The race is now on to preserve the alleged bodycam clips and CCTV footage. The court heard more than 28 days had passed since the alleged incident and it was unsure how long footage is kept before it is deleted.

In court transcripts, Forbes noted: “I know that with CCTV, there may be time limits on that where it is automatically deleted, so I raise that today,” she said.

Judge Judith Elaine Coell told the prosecution: “Can you make a note of that and report it immediately, so that if there is a time limit which I am aware there is very often, that that CCTV is reserved so the Crown can at least review it”. 

THE PROCESS OF ARREST

Sam Macedone, principal lawyer at Sydney-based Macedone Legal said normally if a complaint is made about someone having committed a particular crime police will attend to that person and they would arrest them.

“Police would say there has been an allegation you have committed a crime, you will be taken to the police station and you will be put in a holding cell until they do their paperwork and ask you whether you want to be interviewed in relation to the matter. If you say no, then normally you would get police bail, unless it is a very serious allegation, and then you would turn up to court on the due date.”

The Matilda's captain denies the charges laid against her. Picture: Colin Murty/AFP

THE LIFESPAN OF CCTV, BODYCAM FOOTAGE

Mr Macedone said police can keep bodycam footage and CCTV footage from a police station until a matter is resolved.

“CCTV footage inside the police station would be police-owned and they would have that for as long as they want. It’s normally recorded on a hard drive and they can get a copy if they think it is necessary for a particular a case. But any other recording that's not of any use will simply be wiped over and a new recording made over it,” he said.

However CCTV footage taken from other sources, such as local councils or retailers, would have a time limit.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CCTV, BODYCAM FOOTAGE

CCTV and police bodycam footage is “critical” in a court case, Mr Macedone said.
“CCTV footage is footage of actually what happens and if there is sound to it, it will also record what is said and that is very critical because the one thing that CCTV footage and bodycams don't do is lie. They tell it the way it is,” he said.

Originally published as Sam Kerr cop slur case: Explosive new details you need to know