A grieving father has emotionally told how even the most severe sentence for the driver who killed three of his children would not be enough to bring them back.
Samuel William Davidson was speeding, drunk and high on drugs when he fatally struck siblings Sienna Abdallah, eight, Angelina, 12 and Antony, 13, and their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11, on February 1 in Oatlands in Sydney’s north-west.
Davidson was told on Friday at Parramatta District Court he would spend at least 21 years in prison.
The siblings’ father, Danny Abdallah, said the sentence handed to the professional truck driver over the crash was ‘God’s will’ – but it had a limited meaning to the family.
‘Whether he gets one year or 100 years we won’t get Antony, Angelina, Sienna and Veronique back,’ Mr Abdallah said.
Judge James Bennett gave Davidson a maximum term in prison of 28 years.
Danny Abdallah, whose three children were killed by drunk and drugged driver Samuel Davidson in February 2020, said no sentence would ease the family’s lifelong heartbreak. He is pictured outside Parramatta District Court after the sentencing with his wife Leila
Instead, he said the day marked ‘another milestone on our journey of grief’.
‘We will all have our hearts broken until the day we take our last breath,’ he said.
‘No sentence can help ease that pain.’
Mr Abdallah said the justice system ‘isn’t a place to service revenge for the victims’ but it still needed ‘to show the community the consequences of breaking the law’.
‘Where my disappointment lies is the way our culture loves drugs and alcohol. That’s where my frustration is, more than the driver,’ he said.
‘Hug your kids tight, and love them unconditionally, as you don’t know where life takes you.’
Bridget, the mother of Veronique, said too many innocent lives had been claimed by dangerous driving and the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Davidson, a professional truck driver, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Veronique Sakr, 11, and her cousins, Sienna Abdallah, eight, and her siblings Angelina, 12, and Antony, 13
Danny Abdallah (right) said he forgave Davidson ‘for your sake, for my sake, and most importantly for my family’s sake’ in a victim impact statement the court heard in March
‘Where my disappointment lies is the way our culture loves drugs and alcohol. That’s where my frustration is, more than the driver,’ Mr Abdallah said
‘It needs to stop,’ she said.
The four children had been walking to buy ice-creams when the 31-year-old ploughed into them after his ute mounted a kerb at Oatlands last year.
Judge Bennett sentenced Davidson in Parramatta’s District Court on Friday saying the menacing, dangerous and aggressive driving sustained over a significant period leading up to the tragic event showed all responsibility to the road safety of others was abandoned.
Bridget Sakr (centre) and Craig Mackenzie (right) arrive at Parramatta District Court for Davidson’s sentencing
The tragedy was inevitable, but the magnitude of the tragedy extended to the unimaginable, Judge Bennett said.
The professional truck driver was afforded a 25 per cent discount on sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter for the children he killed and also pleading guilty to three charges relating to the injuries caused to three other children.
One boy has suffered permanent brain damage.
Davidson had been sitting poolside with his housemates drinking Vodka Cruisers and beers, having his first drink about 7am before consuming drugs and driving on February 1.
After the crash, Davidson appeared distressed and was heard saying: ‘What have I done? … I have killed people … I am going to jail.’
He was observed by witnesses speeding through a red light, swerving anti-clockwise around a round-about, and driving at a maximum speed of 133km/h in a 50km/h zone.
After the crash, Davidson appeared distressed and was heard saying: ‘What have I done? … I have killed people … I am going to jail.’
Judge Bennett acknowledged Davidson suffered from ADHD but did not accept impulsivity that day caused him to drive, seen in his consciousness of guilt immediately after the crash.
Davidson’s letter of apology stated that he is heartbroken to have hurt such beautiful families by his disgraceful actions and that he would do anything to relive that day sober and never leave the house.