Chelsea Forward Sam Kerr Acquitted of Racially Aggravated Harassment Charges

Australian soccer star Sam Kerr, who plays for Chelsea, has been found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment towards a police officer. The incident in question occurred in January 2023 in southwest London.

Kerr, 31, was accused of calling a Metropolitan Police officer “stupid and white” during an altercation outside Twickenham Police Station. The confrontation arose after Kerr and her partner, West Ham player Kristie Mewis, were brought to the station by a taxi driver following a dispute over payment and damage to the vehicle.

At Kingston Crown Court, a jury deliberated for just over four hours before delivering a verdict of not guilty. The judge, Peter Lodder KC, noted that while he respected the jury’s decision, Kerr’s behavior had significantly contributed to the bringing of the allegation.

Following the verdict, Kerr expressed relief and apologized for her poor choice of words during what she described as a traumatic evening. She maintained that she never intended to insult or harm anyone and thanked the jury for understanding her position.

During the trial, Kerr admitted to calling the officer “stupid and white” but denied that it constituted racial harassment. She explained that she felt the officer was using his “power and privilege” unfairly in the situation.

The case raised questions about the handling of the prosecution, with Kerr’s legal team arguing that there had been an abuse of process by crown prosecutors. The Crown Prosecution Service initially decided not to charge Kerr, but later reversed this decision following a review process.

With the legal proceedings now concluded, Kerr stated she is looking forward to focusing on her soccer career and the year ahead. Football Australia has expressed its continued support for Kerr and plans to reflect on the lessons learned from this incident.