February 5 – The trial of Chelsea and Australian international Sam Kerr continued yesterday with the striker saying she feared for her life when “trapped” in a taxi. This moment occurred before she was alleged to have caused racially aggravated harassment to a police officer, constable Stephen Lovell.
In court, the Aussie captain gave evidence saying she was “terrified” and her partner, USWNT midfielder Kristie Mewis was “crying and scared.”
On January 30, 2023, it is alleged that Kerr and Mewis who had been out drinking were driven to the Twickenham Police Station by a taxi driver, who complained that they had refused to pay clean-up costs after one of them was sick, and that one of them smashed the vehicle’s rear window.
At the police station Kerr is alleged to have become “abusive and insulting” towards PC Lovell. The words “stupid and white” where used against Lovell, and Kerr has not denied making the comments.
In court, Kerr told the jury that she put her head out of the window when she began to feel sick before the driver “rolled it up” and began to “drive dangerously.”
“I was terrified for my life,” she said. “We were not in control … I deemed him to be dangerous because of the driving but also because he could have taken us anywhere. He couldn’t be tracked so no one knew where we were.”
Kerr described trying to open the doors and windows of the taxi but they remained locked. Mewis then used her footballing skills and kicked out the window.
PC Lovell was wearing a body camera when he confronted Kerr and that was played to the jury who heard Kerr say she and Mewis were “very scared” and “trying to escape” the cab when they damaged the vehicle.
Kerr also made reference to Sarah Everard, who was murdered by Met Police officer Wayne Couzens in 2023, telling officers about a “girl in Clapham” who “got raped and killed.”
She allegedly said to PC Lovell: “I know it wasn’t you … but both of us are scared.”
Kerr, is currently recovering from an ACL injury suffered in January 2024.
The trial continues.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1738809591labto1738809591ofdlr1738809591owedi1738809591sni@o1738809591fni1738809591