Kerr denies using ‘whiteness as insult’ against police

[Pelican Press 0]

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Kerr denies using ‘whiteness as insult’ against police

Matildas captain and Chelsea striker Sam Kerr has denied using “whiteness as an insult” in a heated exchange with police which saw her call one officer “stupid and white”.

The Australia international is on trial charged with causing racially aggravated harassment to PC Stephen Lovell during an incident in south-west London in the early hours of January 30, 2023.

It is alleged that Kerr, 31, and her partner, West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis, had been out drinking when they were driven to 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, calling him “stupid and white”.

While on trial at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday, Kerr was asked by prosecutors if she was using PC Lovell’s “whiteness as an insult”.

She responded: “No, that’s not what I meant”.

“I believed it was him using his power and privilege over me because he was accusing me of being something I’m not… I was trying to express that due to the power and privilege they had they would never have to understand what we had just gone through and the fear we were having for our lives.”

Asked if she was saying PC Lovell was “stupid because he was white”, Kerr said: “No.”

The court previously heard on Wednesday that Kerr had told police “this is a racial f****** thing”.

When asked about these comments, Kerr said: “I believed were treating me differently because of what they perceived to be the colour of my skin – particularly PC Lovell’s behaviour.

“The way he was accusing me of lying, and later arresting me for criminal damage even though Kristie said it was just her (who smashed the taxi’s window).

“At the time, I thought they were trying to put it on me.”

She added on Thursday: “(It was) the way he was responding to me, cutting me off, names he was calling me, being dismissive.”

Kerr also claimed her perception was shaped by how officers were treating her differently to her partner Mewis.

The trial continues.

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