Ex-AFL player Daniel Kerr fires lawyer on the day of his stalking trial

Former West Coast Eagles midfielder Daniel Kerr has dumped his lawyer moments before he was scheduled to stand trial for stalking.

Former AFL champion Daniel Kerr has fired his lawyer on the day he was due to face trial in Perth for stalking his ex-partner.

Mr Kerr, 37, was scheduled to stand trial on Monday in Fremantle Magistrates Court charged with breaching a family violence restraining order and aggravated stalking in Kardinya last year.

But instead, lawyer Rhett Williamson said Mr Kerr had requested a change of legal counsel and did not want to proceed with the trial that day.

Lawyer Seamus Rafferty is instead expected to represent Mr Kerr, but the court was told he was not available until later on Monday.

“I just need some legal advice,” Mr Kerr told the court.

AFL champion Daniel Kerr has fired his lawyer. Picture: Angie Raphael/NCA NewsWire

Mr Kerr said he had not been able to communicate with Mr Williamson since he visited the former West Coast Eagles midfielder in prison on March 11.

He indicated nothing could be resolved in court on Monday because he was yet to speak to Mr Rafferty about the case.

“It’s a most unusual course of events,” Magistrate Adam Hills-Wright said.

Police prosecutors objected to the adjournment, saying it had been a “traumatic” process for the complainant and they wanted to give her the opportunity to resolve the matter.

Daniel Kerr with the premiership cup in 2006 when the West Coast Eagles defeated the Sydney Swans in the grand final.

Mr Hills-Wright considered the case, noting there was a “witness ready and waiting” to give their testimony.

He said it would be “stressful” and “somewhat distressing” for them, and they would have to prepare themselves on another occasion to give evidence.

“They are, evidently, serious allegations,” he said.

Mr Hills-Wright granted the adjournment to April 16 when Mr Kerr will face a trial allocation hearing.

Daniel Kerr is the elder brother of soccer star Sam Kerr. Picture: Michael Wilson/The West Australian

Mr Kerr has been granted bail on these charges, but he is in custody over a separate matter.

If he is still behind bars by the time this matter returns to court, he will appear via video link.

Mr Kerr played 220 games for West Coast and was runner-up for the Brownlow Medal twice.

He was part of the Eagles’ 2006 premiership-winning team before retiring in 2013.

Mr Kerr is the elder brother of Matildas soccer star Sam Kerr.