Sam Kerr Refuses to Tolerate Racist Comments During London Taxi Journey
The Matildas captain explained that she was scared when the driver behaved dangerously, defending her actions.
Australia soccer star Sam Kerr has refuted claims that she was “drunk and kicking off” in the back of a London taxi before the incident with police that led to her trial on a racially aggravated public order offence in a British court.
During her time in the witness box, the Matildas captain recounted the racism her family faced in Australia, as well as her own experiences in England. She maintained that she and her partner Kristie Mewis were “terrified” and felt like they were being “kidnapped” by the taxi driver.
On a lighter note, the trial also revealed that Mewis was carrying a baby boy, due in May.
Kerr testified on the third day of the trial and faced intense cross-examination from top London KC Bill Emlyn Jones. Jones suggested that Kerr was drunk and behaving erratically, but Kerr denied these claims.
Kerr said her memory of the night was clear, but she couldn’t recall details about the driver described as having a “strong South Asian accent.”
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Kerr expressed her belief that the police treated her differently based on her perceived skin color, especially PC Lovell.
PC Stephen Lovell, the officer Kerr insulted twice on Jan. 30, 2023, leading to charges of racially aggravated harassment.
Kerr described her experience with racism growing up and how it affected her family. She also mentioned feeling targeted based on her appearance.
After a night out in London, Kerr and Mewis took a cab, which they usually avoided for safety reasons. The situation escalated when Kerr felt ill and the driver started driving dangerously.
Both women felt unsafe, with Kerr fearing for their safety and feeling vulnerable to a male stranger’s power.
When the police arrived, Kerr initially felt relieved but later felt apprehensive about their intentions, leading to the confrontation with PC Lovell.
Kerr expressed her regret watching the video of the incident and shared her distress during that time.
Mewis is expected to testify after Kerr’s cross-examination concludes.
