Sam Kerr Found Not Guilty
Australian football star Sam Kerr has been found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment. The charges came after she allegedly called a Metropolitan Police officer “stupid and white.” A jury at Kingston Crown Court took about four hours to make their decision. Kerr Found Not Guilty in Court Trial.
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What Happened
The incident happened on January 30, 2023, in southwest London. Kerr, 31, and her partner, Kristie Mewis, were out drinking. Their taxi driver took them to Twickenham Police Station after claiming they refused to pay for a mess in the car and that one of them had broken a window.
At the police station, Kerr reportedly got aggressive with Officer PC Stephen Lovell, calling him “f stupid and white.” Prosecutors argued those remarks were racially abusive, but Kerr denied that she meant it that way.
Jury’s Decision
After hearing all the evidence, the jury ruled in favor of Kerr. Judge Peter Lodder KC said Kerr’s actions played a part in what happened, but he stressed that the jury’s decision remained. He mentioned this would affect future cost decisions.
Kerr didn’t show much emotion when the verdict was announced. However, she did give her lawyer, Grace Forbes, a thumbs-up after the judge left the room.
Kerr’s Side
Kerr admitted she made the comments but said they weren’t meant as racial harassment. She regretted her choice of words but felt her point about privilege still mattered.
She claimed that PC Lovell treated her differently and said, “I believed they were treating me differently because of what they perceived to be the color of my skin.” Kerr insisted she didn’t mean to insult Lovell because of his race; she was just frustrated about how she was being treated.
Questions About the Charges
The court learned that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had initially decided not to charge Kerr. But then they sought more evidence, including another statement from PC Lovell in December 2023. In that statement, Lovell said Kerr’s comments left him “shocked, upset, and humiliated.”
Kerr’s defense team argued that the CPS mishandled the case, claiming prosecutors found a “loophole” to justify pressing charges almost a year later.
PC Lovell Stands Firm
During questioning, Forbes pressed PC Lovell on why he was so set on pursuing charges. When asked if he was determined to take the case to court, Lovell said, “Yes.” Kerr Found Not Guilty in Court Trial.
In the end, Kerr was cleared of all charges and can now move on from this experience.
