- The Matildas superstar is alleged to have labelled office a ‘stupid white b*****d
- The trial itself is set to begin in February over two years after alleged incident
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Chelsea star Sam Kerr has arrived at Kingston Crown Court ahead of her delayed trial for allegedly racially abusing a police officer almost two years ago.
The Australian international is alleged to have insulted, threatened, or caused alarm or distress to a police office while returning home in a taxi following a night out with her fiancee Kristie Mewis on January 30, 2023.
Kerr is set to plead not guilty when the case goes to trial nearly nine months after its preliminary hearing was cancelled.
The footballer will attempt to see the charge dismissed on Tuesday in a bid to avoid next month’s trial.
Kerr allegedly labelled PC Stephen Lovell a ‘stupid white b*****d’ – with Kerr’s legal representatives denying she used the word ‘bastard’, instead allegedly calling the officer a ‘stupid white cop’.
Kerr’s barrister Grace Forbes previously requested CCTV footage from outside Twickenham police station and inside their custody suite be submitted as evidence.
Chelsea and Matildas star Sam Kerr (left) has arrived at Kingston Crown Court for her hearing
Kerr (pictured right with her fiancee Kristie Mewis) has been charged with alleged racially aggravated harassment
Kerr was ushered into the building as she looked to re-start her bid to get the case thrown out
It is understood PC Lovell was called to the scene at Twickenham surrounding a dispute over a taxi fare after the superstar footballer had spent a night out celebrating a FA Cup win over Liverpool – where she scored a hat-trick for Chelsea.
Kerr also reportedly vomited in the taxi and at the time was arrested and interviewed.
Her legal team have argued Kerr was subject to abuse of process after it took a year for her to be charged.
The trial is due to begin on February 3 and last multiple days, but Kerr – who has been in the midst of a long recovery after rupturing her ACL in January 2024 – is not obligated to attend.
With regard to on-the-pitch matters, Kerr – who is expecting her first child with fiancee Mewis – is targeting a return to her Chelsea side in March at the earliest, the Blues head coach Sonia Bompastor has revealed.
Kerr (left) has spent some time on the sidelines after rupturing her ACL in January of last year
The superstar striker is also expecting a baby with her partner, announcing the news last year
‘We are looking to maybe have her back with us [in] February [or] March, not before that,” Bompastor told the media last month. “She’s still on her individual process rehab.
‘It will take at least two or three more months for her to be fit enough to be with the squad.’