Sam Kerr Acquitted of Racial Abuse Charges After Dispute with Taxi Driver

Sam Kerr Acquitted of Racial Abuse Charges

Australian soccer star Sam Kerr was found not guilty of racially abusing a British police officer on Tuesday, February 11th. The incident occurred after a dispute with a taxi driver in the early hours of January 30th, 2023.

Kerr, who has Indian ancestry, called officer Stephen Lovell "stupid and white" after police were called to the scene. The 31-year-old striker, who plays for Chelsea in the Women's Super League, admitted to saying those words but denied one count of racially aggravated harassment.

Her lawyer argued that Kerr's comment was about power and privilege, and Kerr testified that she felt police treated her differently because of the color of her skin.

A jury at Kingston Crown Court acquitted Kerr following a trial. She showed no emotion as the verdict was delivered, while her partner Kristie Mewis cried in the public gallery.

Kerr's trial focused on the aftermath of a night out, which ended with Kerr and Mewis hailing a London black cab to Kerr's home. The driver took them to a police station instead, with Kerr claiming the driver began behaving erratically after she felt ill and spat out the window.

Both Kerr and Mewis said they believed they were being held hostage, with Mewis kicking in the cab's rear window in an attempt to escape shortly before arriving at the police station.

"You guys are fucking stupid and white."

Lovell testified that he was upset by the remark and denied an allegation by Kerr's lawyer that he had claimed to be upset simply to secure a criminal charge.

Kerr, however, said she had felt "terrified for my life" during the cab journey and that police did not take her concerns seriously.