By Rob Harris
London: Matildas captain Sam Kerr called a police officer “f---ing stupid and white” as he attempted to resolve a dispute after she smashed a taxi window during a drunken night out, a London court has heard.
The 31-year-old striker, widely regarded as one of the world’s finest players, is accused of intentionally causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress to a police officer in January 2023. She has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Sam Kerr arrives at court in Kingston upon Thames for her trial for a charge of racial harassment.Credit: Getty Images
Crown Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones told jurors at Kingston Crown Court that Kerr had ordered a black taxi cab after a night out with her partner, former United States international Kristie Mewis, when the driver phoned police to complain about the pair’s behaviour. The cabbie reported that they were trying to smash his back window, and refusing to pay for the fare and a soiling charge after Kerr had vomited.
Instead of taking them to Kerr’s home address in Richmond, the driver took them to Twickenham Police Station, where she allegedly insulted Constable Stephen Lovell after she told him the taxi driver had tried to kidnap her and her partner and hold them hostage.
The court saw about 30 minutes of police bodycam footage where Kerr could be heard to have said: “You guys are stupid and white. You guys are f---ing stupid and white.”
“I’m looking you in the eyes, I’m looking you in the eyes, you guys are f---ing stupid, I’m f---ing over this shit.”
The jury, comprising eight women and four men, was told the comments left Lovell “shocked, upset, and humiliated”.
Asked if she was prepared to pay about £100 ($200) – £60 for the fare and £40 to clean the vomit – plus any extra for damage to the taxi for the matter to be settled, Kerr yelled at Lovell: “I’m not paying for some dodgy c---’s window”, adding she would “get the f---ing Chelsea lawyers on this”.
She was supported at court by her father, Roger, mother Roxanne and brother Levi.
Kerr’s barrister Grace Forbes said the injured Chelsea player’s words did not make her a criminal.
Kerr has pleaded not guilty to the charge.Credit: Getty Images
The court was told police saw Kerr crawl out of the broken rear window of the cab and she and Mewis, described as “upset” and “distressed”, went into the police station to explain what had happened.
When Lovell tried to explain the situation to Kerr and Mewis, he claimed they became verbally abusive, adding that both women were heavily intoxicated.
Lovell told the court when he tried a number of times to tell them what the driver had said, they kept interrupting him claiming they were scared and that he should believe their account over a taxi driver’s. He said when he raised the cost of the damage, Kerr used her phone to show him how much money she had in her bank account, as if to say she could easily afford to pay for any damage if she wanted to.
Lovell said it was “like I was trying to be belittled”. He also said Kerr’s references to him being white had upset him.
Kerr said her partner had attempted to call 911 ( the American emergency number) during the cab ride, but when the call was answered it hung up. She said they feared for their safety, several times referencing the murder of Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped near Clapham Common in 2021, and later raped and strangled.
But Lovell told them there was no record of their call on the police log and that it was not practice to hang up on callers.
The court was told Kerr and Mewis later agreed to pay for the damage to the taxi and criminal damage charges were dropped.
Lovell said Kerr attended the police station the following day for a voluntary interview. When asked if she thought her words could be perceived as racist, Kerr replied: “I am aware that anything can be perceived as racist, for sure.”
Kerr, who is Australia’s all-time leading striker with 69 goals, has not played in over a year after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament in January 2024. She sustained the injury a week before she was charged via postal charge requisition.
Forbes told jurors Kerr would give evidence in her defence. The trial, before Judge Peter Lodder, continues.
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