Matildas star Sam Kerr has been found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment against a British police officer.
A jury unanimously reached its decision after about four hours of deliberation in a UK court.
After the verdict, the Judge said he still needs to rule on costs.
He said: “I take the view her own behaviour contributed significantly to the bringing of this allegation... I don’t go behind the jury’s verdict but that has a significant bearing on the question of costs.”
Incident
On a night out in January 2023, Kerr and Mewis got into an argument with a London taxi driver over vomit in or on the car. The driver said the pair refused to pay the fare and a fee for the vomit.
The driver called the police and drove to Twickenham police station. When the taxi arrived, police say they saw Kerr exiting the car through a broken window.
Kerr and Mewis told police they feared for their safety after the driver re-routed the trip, saying he had been “acting in a crazy way”.
Once inside the police station, body-cam footage shows Kerr calling an officer “f**king stupid” and “white”.
The officer arrested Kerr for criminal damage over the window, and for “racially aggravated public order” over the comments. She was not immediately charged.
Kerr and Mewis then paid the driver, resolving the criminal damage allegation.
A year later, Kerr was formally charged with racially aggravated harassment.
Trial
Kerr’s trial began last week.
Prosecutors needed to prove Kerr’s actions were both intended to cause distress and could have reasonably be considered harassment.
Your contribution ensures The Daily Aus can continue doing the work you love.
I want to give $10 monthly to help TDA keep doing the news.
Your details:
Under UK law, a guilty verdict could have resulted in up to six months in jail or a fine of up to £2,500 ($AU5,000).
Defence
Kerr’s lawyers said that while the words she used are not in contention, she did not hold hostility towards the police officer “because he is white”.
The court also heard that Kerr and her partner believed the cab driver was kidnapping them.
She was cross-examined in the witness box.
During her questioning, Kerr told the court she felt “intimidated” by the police officer, who she said was in a position of power and privilege.
Kerr said this was because the officer had been “treating me differently and not believing me”.
“I believed they were treating me differently because of the colour of my skin.”
The trial lasted seven days.
Matildas future
Kerr has not played since late 2023 after rupturing her ACL.
Interim coach Tom Sermanni told reporters “it’s difficult for me” to confirm when Kerr would return to the squad.
“My main aim as the head coach is hopefully to have Sam fit and healthy,” he said.
The Matildas are currently in the U.S. for a series of matches, and will play South Korea in April.
