Sam Kerr, the Australian women’s football star, has been found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer. The 7-day trial at Kingston Crown Court concluded with the jury delivering a unanimous verdict in her favor.
Kerr, who identifies as white Anglo-Indian, was accused of intentionally causing “racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress” to PC Stephen Lovell during an incident inside a police station in January 2023. The incident occurred after a night out with her fiancée, US international Kristie Mewis, who is pregnant with their first child.
According to witness testimony, Kerr allegedly became abusive and referenced PC Lovell’s race during the incident. However, Kerr denied making any racist comments, but pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court was shown bodycam footage of Kerr saying “You guys are f*** stupid and white,” which she claimed was a reference to her own experiences with racism.
Judge Peter Lodder KC stated that Kerr’s behavior contributed significantly to the bringing of the allegation, but did not go behind the jury’s verdict. Kerr released a statement after the trial, apologizing for expressing herself poorly on what was described as a traumatic evening and thanking her partner, family, friends, and fans for their support.
Kerr is expected to return from an injury in around two months and has been looking forward to an exciting year ahead with her family. This long-running ordeal is finally behind her, but it highlights the ongoing issue of racism and its impact on individuals and communities.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6126685/2025/02/11/sam-kerr-verdict-trial