On Tuesday, Australian women's soccer captain and Chelsea striker Sam Kerr was found not guilty by a jury at Kingston Crown Court of racially abusing a British police officer during a disagreement with a cab driver. Kerr, who has Indian ancestry, referred to Officer Stephen Lovell as "stupid and white" two years ago. Despite acknowledging using those words, Kerr's lawyer successfully argued that they were a commentary on power and privilege rather than racially motivated.
In her statement, Kerr, age 31, expressed regret for her choice of words on the "traumatic evening" but maintained that she had no intention of causing insult or harm. She thanked the jury for unanimously siding with her. Kerr, a prominent female striker globally, disputed the charge of racially aggravated harassment and raised concerns about potential bias due to her skin color in her interactions with the police during the trial, a situation that stirred debate over her future as Australian captain and the decision to prosecute her.
Australian human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson criticized the trial in the Sydney Morning Herald, while Sports Minister Anika Wells voiced support for Kerr on Sky News Australia. The Crown Prosecution Service defended their decision to pursue the case, emphasizing respect for the jury's ruling.
Amid approximately four hours of deliberation, Kerr maintained composure upon hearing the verdict, but her partner Kristie Mewis was visibly emotional. Kerr gestured approval to her lawyer Grace Forbes before leaving the courtroom. Following the not guilty verdict, Kerr expressed relief at being able to move forward from the ordeal.
The trial revolved around an incident where Kerr and Mewis, who plays for West Ham United, took a London taxi to Kerr's residence after a night out. The driver deviated to a police station instead, leading to a situation where Kerr felt unwell, spat out of the window, and both players believed they were being detained against their will. Mewis attempted to escape by breaking the cab's rear window before reaching the police station.
Officer Lovell testified feeling offended by Kerr's remark and refuted any suggestion by Forbes that he manipulated the situation to secure charges. Kerr, Australia's leading goal scorer with 69 goals, has not played since sustaining an injury in January 2024.