London: Matildas captain Sam Kerr allegedly called a police officer “a stupid white bastard” during a dispute over a taxi fare last year, UK newspaper The Sun has reported.
Kerr, who has pleaded not guilty and is fighting to have a charge of racially harassing the police officer thrown out of court, was reported to have been sick in the cab after a night out and is then alleged to have unleashed the slur when police arrived.
Sam Kerr of Australia.Credit: Getty
With the offence carrying a potential prison term or fine or both, her glittering career and millions of dollars in endorsements are hanging by a thread following the revelation of the alleged incident.
Her legal team will head back to court on April 26 in a bid to avoid a criminal trial scheduled for February next year.
Court documents released on Tuesday show their plan is to argue an abuse of process by Crown prosecutors after it took almost 12 months for charges to be laid while they decided whether to charge her.
The alleged incident took place a short drive from Kingsmeadow, where Chelsea play the majority of their home matches. Credit: Getty
If Kerr’s bid is unsuccessful, she will appear at a trial at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court, south-west London, on February 3. It is expected to last between four and five days with two police officers giving evidence. Police body cam video is also likely to be presented to the court.
Kerr is accused of using insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress to an officer in Twickenham, south-west London, on January 30 last year. She was not officially charged until six weeks ago and appeared in court via videolink on Monday (local time) to enter a not guilty plea.
Judge Judith Elaine Coello told the court on Monday that she understood that Kerr’s defence would be that she didn’t intend to cause alarm, harassment or distress to the officer and that her behaviour did not amount to it, and it was not racially aggravated.