Chelsea striker Sam Kerr tells court she was 'trapped' in taxi before window was smashed

Sky News

05-02-2025

Chelsea striker Sam Kerr has claimed she and her partner were "trapped" in the back of a taxi before one of them smashed the vehicle's rear window.
The Australian women's football captain is on trial charged with racially abusing a white police officer.
It is alleged the 31-year-old, who plays for Chelsea in the Women's Super League, and her partner, West Ham midfielder Kristie Mewis, had been out drinking before the dispute in the early hours of 20 January 2023.
They were driven to Twickenham Police Station by the taxi driver, who complained they had refused to pay clean-up costs after one of them was sick and one of them smashed the rear window.
At the police station, Kerr is alleged to have become "abusive and insulting" towards officer Stephen Lovell, calling him "stupid and white".
Kerr accepts making the comments but has pleaded not guilty to one count of racially aggravated harassment. Her lawyer has argued she was making a comment about power and privilege.
Taxi driver 'swerved in and out of lanes'
Giving evidence on Wednesday, Kerr told the jury she had put her head out of the window when she began to feel sick before the driver "rolled it up" and began to "drive dangerously".
"He accelerated and began to swerve in and out of lanes... We were getting thrown around," she said.
She said he kept "speeding up and stopping" and "it felt like he was going wherever he thought".
'It was his way or nothing'
Kerr said the "dangerous" driving continued for 15 to 20 minutes, and added: "I was terrified for my life.
"Everything was going through my mind about being in a car with a stranger I deemed to be dangerous.
"There was no reasoning with him. It was his way or nothing.
"Kristie asked him to stop the car but there was no change to his driving. We had no idea where we were.
"Kristie was very distressed. She was crying and scared. I've never seen her like that before and it made me more scared.
"I started to realise how serious the situation was. It put me in protective mode... he had the power over us.
"We were not in control... I deemed him to be dangerous because of the driving but also because he could have taken us anywhere. He couldn't be tracked so no one knew where we were."
Kerr said the pair tried to open the doors and windows several times but they remained locked.
Ms Mewis eventually "kicked out [the window] with her boot", but Kerr added: "We didn't get out straight away as the car was still moving."
Footage from PC Lovell's bodyworn camera was previously played to jurors showing Kerr telling him and another officer she and Ms Mewis were "very scared" and "trying to escape" the taxi when they damaged the vehicle.
Kerr told jurors at Kingston Crown Court that she felt police officers had unfairly taken the cab driver's side.
"I believed they were treating me differently based on what they perceived to be the colour of my skin," she said.
The court also heard that at the police station Kerr made reference to Sarah Everard, who was murdered by Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens in 2023.
Kerr, who was born in Perth and has Indian ancestry, also made reference to the Australian Claremont serial killer, who she said "was thought to have been a taxi driver".
On Tuesday, the court heard she said she feared for her life after the journey.