London: Matildas captain Sam Kerr allegedly called a police officer a “stupid white bastard” during a dispute over a taxi fare last year, a British newspaper has reported. the sun It has been reported.
Kerr, who has pleaded not guilty and is fighting a racial harassment charge against a police officer who was dismissed from court, was reportedly unwell in the taxi after a night out, then allegedly unleashed the slur when police arrived.
Since this crime carries a potential prison sentence, fine, or both, her glittering career and millions of dollars in endorsements are hanging by a thread after the alleged incident was revealed.
Her legal team will return 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 discuss abuse of process by Crown prosecutors after it took nearly 12 months to bring charges while they decide whether to charge her.
If Kerr's application is unsuccessful, she will appear 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 camera video will also likely be presented to court.
Kerr was accused of using insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress to an officer at Twickenham, south-west London, on January 30 last year. She was not formally charged until six weeks ago and appeared in court via video link on Monday (local time) to plead her innocence.
Judge Judith Ellen Coelho told the court on Monday that she understood Kerr's defense to be that she did not intend to cause alarm, harassment or distress to the officer and that her conduct did not rise to that level, nor was it racially aggravated.