Sam Kerr tells court she was treated differently because of ‘the colour of my skin’

Sam Kerr tells court she was treated differently because of ‘the colour of my skin’

Chelsea forward Sam Kerr testified in court that she was treated differently by police because of her skin colour during her trial on a charge of racially aggravated harassment of police officer Stephen Lovell. The 31-year-old Australian star, one of the world’s leading women’s football players, claimed she was “terrified” for her life after being trapped in a taxi in the early hours of January 30, 2023, before the incident at Twickenham Police Station.

Kerr testified that she and her partner, West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis, were out drinking when a taxi driver became upset after they allegedly refused to pay for cleaning costs following an incident of sickness, and after one of them smashed the rear window of the cab. She described how, during the ride, the driver “rolled up” the window and began driving dangerously for 15 to 20 minutes, leaving them feeling trapped and vulnerable in an untrackable vehicle.

At the police station, Kerr admitted to calling Lovell “stupid and white,” a remark she claims was made out of fear and frustration. However, she insisted that her comment was not racially motivated, despite alleging that the police, particularly PC Lovell, treated her differently because of her perceived skin colour.

Kerr also referenced broader issues of violence and racism during her testimony, mentioning the Sarah Everard case (who was murdered by Met Police officer Wayne Couzens in 2023) and an infamous Australian taxi driver linked to serial killings. Additionally, she discussed her experiences with racism growing up in Australia and Britain, noting that her Indian heritage led to discriminatory treatment of her family members.