EXCLUSIVE
Sam Kerr has broken cover for the first time since her racial harassment claim became public. She stepped out in central London on Thursday and later emerged for dinner with fiancé Kristie Mewis.
The Matildas and Chelsea striker’s legal drama – as exclusively revealed by the Mail – means she will be tried before a jury in February next year.
Kerr has not been seen since the story broke on March 5, and has made no public comment on her shock start to the year, which also saw her dream of representing Australia at the Paris Olympics all but ruined by a serious knee injury she incurred. in January.
Kerr seemed unconcerned about her terrible start to 2024 as she stepped out for dinner with fiancé Kristie Mewis in central London on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, the Matildas and Chelsea striker was dressed casually after leaving the Blues’ training ground in Cobham, on the south-west edge of London.
Before the Mail took these exclusive photos, Kerr had not been seen since news of her bomb charge broke on March 5, just after she pleaded not guilty in court.
But despite her misery, the 30-year-old looked relaxed as she stepped out with Mewis on Thursday evening after being seen dressed casually earlier in the day following a visit to Chelsea’s training center in Cobham, south-west London.
She had already shed her tracksuit and shorts by the time she joined her American football star partner, who wore a striking all-black outfit that paired a sheer top with a jacket, mini skirt and boots.
It is the second time Mewis has been seen in public since news of Kerr’s indictment broke, with The Mail taking exclusive photos of her in central London on Tuesday afternoon.
The Mail exclusively revealed that the 30-year-old was charged with racially aggravated harassment of a police officer and entered a not guilty plea on March 4, and will now face a four-day criminal trial before a jury.
Mewis – who plays for West Ham – stepped out in a striking all-black kit
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed that the incident, which took place on January 30, 2023, was sparked by a dispute over a taxi fare before Kerr allegedly used abusive, threatening or insulting words that caused the officer alarm or distress.
The Matildas captain wore a white T-shirt under a black suit jacket as she appeared before Kingston Crown Court via videolink, speaking only to confirm her identity and enter a not guilty plea to the charges.
Judge Judith Elaine Coello said it was clear the footballer would defend that she did not mean to upset the police officer.
“I understand that the defense is that she did not intend to worry, harass or hurt the officer, that (her conduct) did not amount to that and that it was not racially aggravated,” the judge asked Kerr’s attorney, Grace Forbes.
Kerr had also remained quiet on social media since the charges became public, but that changed on Wednesday when she reposted an Instagram post from Chelsea promoting the fact that 30,000 tickets have been sold for their upcoming clash with rivals Arsenal.
In addition to the accusation of racially abusing a police officer, Kerr, 30, is also dealing with a serious knee injury that has all but ruined her dream of representing Australia at the Paris Olympics.
After being photographed by the Mail, the Chelsea striker posted this photo on Instagram while watching hit TV show Gossip Girl
Kerr wore no bandages or support on her injured right knee, which was surgically repaired in January after tearing a ligament during a Chelsea training camp.
The record-breaking forward has also faced calls for her to be stripped of the Matildas captaincy after it emerged she kept her appointment secret from the national team and the code’s governing body, Football Australia.
On Thursday evening, UK time, she posted a photo to Instagram watching hit TV show Gossip Girl, with what appears to be two iced coffees on a table in front of the screen.
As well as dealing with the charges and her anterior cruciate ligament injury, Kerr has faced calls to strip her of the Matildas captaincy after it emerged she had not told the national team or Football Australia – the code’s governing body below – about her legal situation.
Both Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson and FA chief executive James Johnson confirmed they were only aware of the bombshell news when the Mail broke the story.
Her Australia and Chelsea teammates have been silent about her situation, with Matildas and Manchester City star Mary Fowler simply saying: “I don’t really know much about that so I’m not in a position to talk about it and I also think it’s a private matter for her,” during an appearance on Australian TV on Wednesday.
However, the record striker did receive support from Graham Arnold, the coach of the Australian national men’s team, the Socceroos.
“My biggest concern is – I don’t want to get into this – but it’s Sam himself,” Arnold said Thursday.
‘The poor boy has had a very tough year, with (her) injury at the World Cup and with her cruciate ligament injury.
“Please let’s give her some thoughts about herself. I think it’s a difficult time she’s going through, it would be very difficult for her.
“Like I said, my thoughts are only with her.”