Sam Kerr has walked free from a London court after being found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer by a jury.
The Australia women’s football captain was charged after calling a Metropolitan Police officer “f—ing stupid and white” after a night out in the United Kingdom capital went sour during a taxi ride on 30 January 2023.
In a statement after the not guilty verdict, Kerr said she was “focused on getting back on to the pitch”.
“I can finally put this challenging period behind me. While I apologise for expressing myself poorly on what was a traumatic evening, I have always maintained that I did not intend to insult or harm anyone and I am thankful that the jury unanimously agreed,” Kerr said.
“I would like to thank my partner Kristie, my family, friends and all the fans for their love and support, especially those who attended court each day. I am fully focused on getting back on to the pitch and look forward to an exciting year ahead for me and my family.”
A jury returned the not guilty verdict on Tuesday local time after deliberating for four hours and 17 minutes at Kingston Crown Court, including an hour’s lunch break with the verdict delivered immediately after.
Kerr did not react as the verdict was read, but then gave a thumbs up to her barrister Grace Forbes.
When Forbes raised the subject of costs, Judge Peter Lodder responded: “I take the view her own behaviour contributed significantly to the bringing of this allegation. I don’t go behind the jury’s verdict but that has a significant bearing on the question of costs.”
Kerr was charged with racially aggravated harassment with intent to cause alarm or distress, a public order offence which carried a maximum sentence of 26 weeks in jail.
Kerr was charged by police constable Stephen Lovell, the London officer she abused after an hour-long altercation in Twickenham police station that followed the taxi ride.
The ride had ended with Kerr’s fiancee, United States international midfielder Kristie Mewis, kicking out a back window in an attempt to escape the vehicle which the pair said was being driven “crazily”.
They said they feared for their lives and thought they were being kidnapped.
Kerr’s pregnant fiancee, US international Kristie Mewis, burst into tears as the verdict was read. Source: AAP / Andrew Matthews
The alleged erratic driving began after Kerr, who admitted she was drunk, had thrown up outside the cab window on the way home.
It can now be reported that Kerr’s legal team tried to get the case thrown out at a preliminary hearing, arguing there had been an abuse of process by crown prosecutors.
Speaking during the hearing on 14 January, Forbes said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had violated its own guidance, adding that a “loophole” in the victims’ right of review scheme was used to justify prosecution proceedings a year after the alleged offence.
During the trial, it was put to Lovell that he only provided a statement alleging that Kerr’s comments had caused alarm or harassment after the CPS had decided not to proceed.
In his first statement to the CPS, the officer made no mention of the “stupid and white” comment having an impact on him, the jury was told.
Only in December 2023 did Lovell provide a statement saying the comments made him “shocked, upset, and (left) me feeling humiliated”.
