Chelsea striker Sam Kerr was found not guilty on Tuesday of racially aggravated harassment after calling a London police officer “stupid and white”.
On January 30, 2023, a jury at Kingston Crown Court cleared Australia’s captain of an incident in southwest London.
Kerr, 31, and her partner, West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis, were out drinking when a taxi driver drove them to Twickenham Police Station, complaining that they had refused to pay clean-up fees after one of them vomited and shattered the vehicle’s back glass.
At the police station, Kerr became “abusive and insulting” towards police officer Stephen Lovell, calling him “stupid and white”.
A jury returned the not guilty verdict after deliberating for more than four hours since the previous day.
Judge Peter Lodder said after the verdict: “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 showed no emotion during the reading of the verdict but gave a thumbs up to her barrister after the judge had left.
The Australian made her debut for current Women’s Super League champions Chelsea in 2020. She is currently out of action with a knee injury.
