London: Matildas team leader Samantha Kerr will face a criminal trial next year for allegedly racially harassing a police officer during a dispute over a taxi fare, the Metropolitan Police said.
Britain daily Mail It was reported that Kerr (30 years old) appeared before a court in London on Monday on charges of using insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused concern or distress to a police officer during an incident that occurred in Twickenham, southwest London, on January 30.
Sam Kerr on the field last year.credit: GT
A Metropolitan Police spokesman later said the charge related to an incident involving a police officer who was responding to a taxi fare complaint.
The Matildas star, who carried the Australian flag at King Charles' coronation at Westminster Abbey, wore a white shirt under a black suit jacket as she appeared at Kingston Crown Court via video link and spoke only to confirm her identity and enter not guilty to the charge.
She is expected to stand trial at Wimbledon Crown Court in February next year, where two police officers are due to give evidence. The trial is scheduled to last four days.
Judge Judith Eileen Coelho reportedly said the footballer's defense would be that her intention was not to disturb the police officer.
“My understanding is that the defense is that she did not intend to alarm, harass or distress the officer; [her behaviour] The newspaper quoted the judge as telling Kerr’s lawyer Grace Forbes: “It did not rise to the level of that and it was not racially aggravated.”
Football Australia said in a statement that it was aware of the legal proceedings relating to Kerr, and because it was an ongoing legal matter, it was unable to comment further.
He added: “Our focus remains on supporting all our players, on and off the field. “We will continue to monitor the situation and provide support as required,” a company spokesperson said.
