Matildas star Sam Kerr found not guilty of racial harassment in London court
Sam Kerr has made a public statement after the jury finally came to a verdict on the Matildas star’s racial harassment charge following a week-long trial at a London court.
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Matildas captain Sam Kerr has been found not guilty by a London jury of one count of aggravated racial harassment after she labelled a police officer “f — ing stupid and white”.
On Tuesday 2.10pm local time, the 12-person jury returned to court nine at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to deliver their unanimous decision nearly 24 hours after they were first sent off to deliberate.
About four hours after the decision was handed down the 31-year-old released a statement via her media representatives and said she was sorry for what happened.
“Following today’s not guilty verdict, I can finally put this challenging period behind me,” she said.
“While I apologise for expressing myself poorly on what was a traumatic evening, I have always maintained that I did not intend to insult or harm anyone and I am thankful that the jury unanimously agreed.
“I would like to thank my partner Kristie (Mewis), my family, friends and all the fans for their love and support, especially those who attended court each day.
“I am fully focused on getting back on to the pitch and look forward to an exciting year ahead for me and my family”.
The trial – led by Justice Peter Lodder – heard testimony spanning more than a week and on its seventh day returned with a verdict from the four male, eight female jury.
The offence carries a maximum two years imprisonmentnt and fine of about $5000.
Sam Kerr has been found NOT guilty of one count of racially aggravated harassment at a London court at about 2.10pm local time. @theheraldsun@dailytelegraph@couriermail@theTiserpic.twitter.com/RNxf0t3zTr
— Sophie Elsworth (@sophieelsworth) February 11, 2025
The court spend around four hours deliberating before reaching its decision.
Shortly after the decision was announced, Ms Kerr gave a thumbs up to her legal team led by criminal barrister Grace Forbes.
Ms Kerr’s fiancee, Ms Mewis, broke down in tears while sitting in the public gallery and members of the Kerr family who have travelled from Australia for the trial were also emotional after the result.
Ms Kerr and her brother Levi hugged each other as the football star walked out of the courtroom.
Justice Lodder spoke briefly and told the court: “I take the view her (Ms Kerr’s) behaviour contributed significantly to the bringing of this allegation.
“That has a significant bearing on the question on costs.
“The behaviour she has to accept by virtue of the video recording”.
Ms Kerr was charged with one count of aggravated racial harassment after she had a heated argument with police officer PC Stephen Lovell in the early hours of January 30, 2023 at Twickenham police station in southwest London.
She had been out on a late night with friends in the city’s popular Oxford Street area and admitted during the trial that she was drunk later in the evening including when she was arrested at Twickenham police station.
Sam Kerr and her fiancée Kristie Mewis both silent after leaving a London court on Tuesday afternoon after Ms Kerr was found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment of a British police officer. @theheraldsun@dailytelegraph@couriermail@theTiser@SkyNewsAustpic.twitter.com/il8lRaOSjg
— Sophie Elsworth (@sophieelsworth) February 11, 2025
Before the jury was sent away to deliberate they were asked to consider three key elements to determine the Chelsea striker’s fate – did Ms Kerr intend to cause PC Lovell hurt, alarm and distress and did she actually cause him hurt, alarm or distress.
The third element is whether the comments she made to PC Lovell about being “f — ing stupid and white” were racially aggravated.
The 2023 incident at the police station followed a dispute Ms Kerr and her fiancee Kristie Mewis had with a London taxi driver over a fare.
On their way home in a Black Cab, Ms Kerr vomited while inside the vehicle.
During the court proceedings, Ms Kerr said it was after this moment that the taxi driver began driving dangerously.
The Matildas’ star said she believed he had taken the two women “hostage” by the male taxi driver and she feared for her life.
Ms Mewis kicked through one of the cab windows with her boots leaving smashed glass on the ground near where the taxi pulled up at Twickenham police station.
There were also claims the pair damaged the plastic shielding between the driver and the passengers’ area.
Ms Kerr told the courtroom during last week’s testimony that she called PC Lovell “f — ing stupid and white” because she believed: “They were treating me differently and not believing me and treating me as a person who had done something wrong.”
“They were in the position of privilege and power and I believe they were treating me differently because of my skin colour.”
Ms Kerr identifies as white Anglo-Indian and said she had experienced racism throughout her life from as young as the age of nine or ten-years-old.
Throughout the trial, Ms Kerr’s family including parents Roxanne and Roger and her brother Levi have been in court each day to support her.
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Originally published as Matildas star Sam Kerr found not guilty of racial harassment in London court
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