Police Talk About Charges Against Sam Kerr
On the second day of the trial, a key witness spoke in court about Chelsea footballer Sam Kerr. A Metropolitan Police officer said he really wanted to take action against Kerr. This was after she reportedly called him “stupid and white.”
ICYMT: Sam Kerr Embroiled in Heated Taxi Incident
The Australian player faces charges for racially aggravated harassment against Police Constable Stephen Lovell. This incident happened in the early morning of January 30, 2023, in south-west London.
What Happened?
In court, it was said that Kerr and her partner, Kristie Mewis, who plays for West Ham, had been drinking that night. A taxi driver took them to Twickenham Police Station. He claimed they wouldn’t pay for cleaning after one of them got sick in his cab. He also said one of them broke his car’s back window.
But Kerr and Mewis told a different story. They said the driver drove fast, made sudden stops, and even locked them in the car for about 15 minutes. They felt “very scared” and tried to escape, which led to the damage. This was caught on Pc Lovell’s body camera and shown in court.
The Offensive Comments
At the police station, things got heated. Kerr reportedly became “abusive and insulting” towards Pc Lovell, calling him “stupid and white.” Kerr admits to saying this but doesn’t think it counts as racially aggravated harassment.
Interestingly, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) didn’t want to charge Kerr at first. Later, Pc Lovell sent in a new statement saying the comments made him feel “shocked, upset, and humiliated.” This led to the charge being filed nearly a year after the event.
Questions and Defense
Grace Forbes, Kerr’s lawyer, challenged Pc Lovell’s reasons for making the new statement. She suggested he only did it after the CPS decided not to charge her. Pc Lovell denied this but said he was set on pursuing the case.
Forbes also mentioned Kerr was at the Women’s World Cup in July and August 2023, questioning if her fame influenced the case. Pc Lovell said he didn’t remember seeing her on TV and that her popularity didn’t affect his actions.
Officer’s Feelings About the Comments
During the re-examination, prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC asked Pc Lovell how the comments impacted him. He said being called “f stupid” felt “belittling and upsetting.” He added that the reference to his race was “very unnecessary” and also “upsetting.”
When asked if he made up his statement to get a charge, Pc Lovell replied firmly, “No, I didn’t make it up to get a charge over the line.”
The trial is still going on.
