Chelsea forward Sam Kerr was acquitted on Tuesday of racially aggravated harassment after he referred to a London police officer as “stupid and white.”
The Australian captain was exonerated by a jury at Kingston Crown Court in connection with an incident in southwest London on January 30, 2023.
A taxi driver drove Kerr, 31, and her partner, West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis, to Twickenham Police Station after drinking. The driver claimed that Kerr and her partner had refused to pay for cleanup after one of them puked and another had broken the rear window of the car.
Police officer Stephen Lovell was called “stupid and white” by Kerr, who became “abusive and insulting” towards him at the police station.
After more than four hours of deliberation over the previous day, the jury rendered the not guilty judgement.
After the verdict, Judge Peter Lodder stated: “I believe her actions played a major role in the allegation’s introduction.”Although I don’t support the jury’s decision, it has a big impact on the cost issue.”
Kerr remained emotionless as the verdict was given, but when the judge had departed, she gave her lawyer the thumbs up.
In 2020, the Australian debuted with Chelsea, the reigning Women’s Super League winners. She has a knee issue that has kept her out of action.
