Sam Kerr's defence in harassment trial revealed

Sam Kerr has appeared in a London court for the first day of her racial harassment trial. 

The Matildas striker has been accused of calling a police officer “stupid and white” as he attempted to defuse a dispute over a taxi fare in southwest London on January 30th 2023.

The all-time leading Australian international scorer has pleaded not guilty to the racially aggravated harassment of a police officer.

In court on Monday it was claimed that Kerr and her partner, fellow footballer Kristie Mewis, believed they were being kidnapped when the taxi they were travelling in diverted off route during a dispute over the fare.

Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones told jurors that the women had been on a night out and were travelling home in the taxi when Kerr was allegedly sick. 

The pair and the taxi driver then engaged in an argument over a cleaning fee of the vehicle, which caused the driver to divert the trip to Twickenham Police Station. 

When the pair realised they were no longer heading to Kerr's house, Mewis kicked out the rear window fearing she was being kidnapped.

“The cabbie ended up phoning the police to complain about their behaviour, reporting that they were trying to smash a window,” Emlyn Jones said.

In footage from a police body-worn camera, the pair were visibly shaken on arrival at the station and Kerr said they were “both very afraid” and they “were begging to get out of there.”

Prosecutors said Kerr then allegedly became verbally abusive towards police officer Stephen Lovell, and insulted him “by reference to his ethnicity” when he recalled the driver’s version of events.

“You guys are stupid and white. You guys are f****** stupid and white,” Kerr said. “I’m looking you in the eyes, you guys are f****** stupid. I’m f****** over this shit.”

Emlyn Jones said there was no dispute over what was said, instead, jurors must decide what she meant and how it made Lovell feel.

Kerr’s lawyer Grace Forbes said, “When you look past the headline, and you look at the evidence, Samantha Kerr did not feel hostile towards the officer because he is white”.

“The words were a comment – however poorly expressed – about positions of power, about privilege and about how those things might colour perception.”

The officer told the court he felt Kerr’s behaviour was “quite abusive”.

Image credits: ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial