February 4 – Chelsea striker Sam Kerr, broadly thought of to be one of many high ladies gamers on this planet, is at the moment on trial at Kingston Crown Court docket charged with inflicting racially aggravated harassment to PC Stephen Lovell within the early hours of 30 January 2023.
A jury has been instructed that the Australian worldwide referred to as the Metropolitan Police officer “silly and white” throughout an incident at a police station in south-west London.
After an evening out together with her companion and fellow footballer Kristie Mewis, they have been pushed to Twickenham police station by a taxi driver who complained that the passengers refused to pay clean-up prices after one in every of them was sick, and that one in every of them had smashed the car’s rear window.
Ms Kerr, 31, denies any wrongdoing.
Whereas on the police station, Ms Kerr is alleged to have turn into “abusive and insulting” in direction of PC Lovell. The jury have been performed footage of the PC’s physique digicam displaying Ms Kerr utilizing an expletive whereas telling the officer he was “silly and white”.
Prosecution barrister Invoice Emlyn Jones KC instructed the jury the feedback left PC Lovell “shocked, upset, and humiliated”.
Defending Ms Kerr, Grace Forbes, mentioned: “No person disputes the phrases that have been mentioned.
“However easy phrases, even phrases like these, don’t make you responsible of a legal offence.”
“The phrases have been a remark, nonetheless poorly expressed, about positions of energy, about privilege, and the way these issues would possibly color notion.”
Chelsea have but to remark.
Contact the author at moc.l1738692792labto1738692792ofdlr1738692792owedi1738692792sni@r1738692792etsbe1738692792W.kci1738692792N1738692792.