LONDON — Chelsea striker Sam Kerr provided testimony in court on Wednesday regarding an incident that has led to her facing charges of racially aggravated harassment against a law enforcement officer. Kerr asserted that her treatment by the police was influenced by her race, stating, “the color of my skin” played a role in how she was treated during her encounter at the Twickenham Police Station on January 30, 2023.
The 31-year-old Australian captain shared her fears for her safety when she felt “trapped” in a taxi just before the events that led to the accusations. She recounted feeling “terrified” during the incident and mentioned her partner, West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis, was also “crying and scared” throughout the experience.
Kerr, one of the world’s leading female footballers, is accused of harassing police constable Stephen Lovell in a racially aggravated manner. The background of the incident involves Kerr and Mewis reportedly having been out drinking, after which they took a taxi to the police station. The driver alleged that they refused to pay for cleaning costs due to one of them being ill and that another had broken the taxi’s rear window.
The court heard that upon arrival at the police station, Kerr became “abusive and insulting” towards Lovell, reportedly making comments such as “stupid and white.” While Kerr admits to making these remarks, she contests that they do not constitute the charge of harassment.
Kerr expressed to the jury that what happened to her at the police station felt racially charged, highlighting that police, particularly PC Lovell, were “treating me differently because of what they perceived to be the color of my skin” and that she felt unjustly accused of dishonesty.
In her testimony, Kerr detailed how she leaned out of the taxi window when she began feeling ill, only for the driver to “roll it up” and engage in reckless driving for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. She described the situation as one where she was “terrified for [her] life” since they had no means of being tracked down and could have been taken anywhere.
Kerr recounted attempts to escape, noting that she and Mewis repeatedly tried to open the doors and windows, which remained locked until Mewis managed to break the window with her foot.
Previously, footage from Lovell’s body-worn camera was shown to the jury, where Kerr can be heard expressing that she and Mewis were “very scared” and were attempting to flee the taxi when they caused the damage to the vehicle.
Furthermore, while at the station, Kerr referenced the tragic case of Sarah Everard, who was murdered by a police officer in 2023, while citing concern for their safety. She told the officers about a “girl in Clapham” who had been “raped and killed,” pointing out that, while not accusing Lovell, both she and Mewis were frightened.
Having grown up in Perth, she also brought up the infamous Claremont serial killer case, indicating that the fear of taxi drivers was a prevailing concern among people in her community.
Kerr was questioned about her experiences with racism both in Australia and the UK, identifying her background as a white Anglo-Indian. She reflected on how her father and brother, who are of Indian descent, faced different treatment due to their skin color, and shared her encounters with racism at school, on social media, and even while shopping, mentioning instances where a security guard would follow her.
