Chelsea’s forward player has been cleared, as he was found not guilty of racism charges against him according to recent reports.
Chelsea’s forward, Sam Kerr was found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment charges (racism) after a unanimous verdict by the jury at Kingston Crown Court.
The Australian footballer had faced allegations of making racist comments toward police officer PC Stephen Lovell after a night out in London. The 31-year-old Matildas captain was accused of calling PC Lovell “f stupid and white” at Twickenham Police Station in January 2023. However, the jury deliberated for over four hours before clearing her of all charges.
The incident stemmed from an altercation involving Kerr and her fiancée, Kristie Mewis, with a taxi driver following a night out in Mayfair, which led to their arrest. Believing they were being kidnapped, Mewis broke the cab’s rear window in an attempt to escape. The driver then took them to a police station, where Kerr allegedly became verbally abusive toward officers. During the trial, Kerr defended her actions, stating she felt threatened and drew parallels to the tragic abduction and murder of Sarah Everard in 2021.
Kerr explained that her outburst was driven by fear and frustration, as she believed the officer was dismissing her concerns. Despite initial hesitation from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to proceed with the case, Scotland Yard pushed for charges in December 2023, months after Kerr had represented Australia in the Women’s World Cup.
After her acquittal, Kerr left the courtroom with a smile, while Mewis was overcome with emotion. The couple, who are expecting a baby boy later this year, are now focusing on their upcoming wedding.