Australian soccer player Sam Kerr has been left in the hands of a jury after a trial accused her of racially aggravated harassment. The 31-year-old striker denies using racist language against a police officer, claiming she was being targeted due to her skin color.
During an incident on January 30, 2023, in south-west London, Kerr and her partner Kristie Mewis were driving home from a night out when they were stopped by the police. The driver reported that one of them had vomited and smashed his rear window. At the police station, Kerr allegedly called PC Stephen Lovell “stupid and white” while he was taking their statements.
Kerr maintains she used the phrase to express frustration with Lovell’s power and privilege, claiming it would be impossible for him to understand her experiences as a woman of color. She denied saying Lovell was “stupid because he is white” and claimed she feared for her life after being “trapped” in the backseat.
The taxi driver who took them to the police station has not been called to testify, but his anonymity has raised questions about why the police did not investigate further. The prosecution’s defense team argued that Kerr was the victim of a crime regardless of whether she was intoxicated or not.
Kerr’s lawyers presented footage from PC Lovell’s body-worn camera showing her and her partner as “very scared” and trying to escape the cab before they damaged it. Kerr apologized for using the phrase but claimed its message still resonated.
The trial has highlighted issues of racism within law enforcement, with Kerr alleging that police were treating her differently due to her skin color. The jury’s verdict will determine whether Kerr is found guilty of racially aggravated harassment.
Source: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13306808/sam-kerr-trial-jury-in-court-case-of-chelsea-striker-retires-to-consider-verdict