A drunk and drugged-up driver who killed four children walking along a Sydney footpath to buy ice-creams has had his jail term slashed.
Samuel William Davidson was driving erratically and speeding when he struck Veronique Sakr, 11, and her cousins, Sienna Abdallah, eight, and her siblings Angelina, 12, and Antony, 13.
The 31-year-old ploughed into them after his ute mounted a kerb at Oatlands, in Sydney’s northwest on February 1, 2020. He was jailed in April 2021 for 28 years with a non-parole period of 21 years.
But in a majority decision on Friday, the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal concluded the term was manifestly excessive.
Immediately after Samuel William Davidson mowed down a group of children on a Sydney footpath, killing four of them, he was resigned to being jailed. His jail term has now been slashed
Antony (far left), 13, Angelina (far right), 12, and Sienna Abdallah (front left), 9, were killed in the horror accident on February 1, 2020
Davidson, a professional truck driver, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Veronique Sakr, 11 (on right), and her cousins, Sienna Abdallah, eight, and her siblings Angelina, 12, and Antony, 13 (left)
Davidson was resentenced to a term of 20 years with a non-parole period of 15 years. That is a cut of six years to his minimum prison term.
The former truck driver pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the children he killed and also pleaded guilty to three charges relating to the injuries caused to three other children. One boy has suffered permanent brain damage.
Veronique’s mother, Bridget, was devastated by the decision, which was made by a panel of appeals court judges.
‘What does it say about our judicial system? What we can do is help change the law so other families don’t go what we go through,’ she told the Parramatta Advertiser.
‘One thing I want to say is it was all about him getting a crushing sentence but it’s our kids who were crushed.
‘No one’s going to bring back Veronique or her cousins. I just worry what this means for future tragedies.’
After the crash, Davidson appeared distressed and was heard saying: ‘What have I done? … I have killed people … I am going to jail.’
Bridget Sakr (centre) says she is devastated by the decision to release Samuel William Davidson early
Danny Abdullah, the father of Sienna, Angelina and Antony, said at the time of Davidson’s sentencing that it did not matter whether he received one year or 100 years, ‘we won’t get Antony, Angelina, Sienna and Veronique back.’
‘We will all have our hearts broken until the day we take our last breath and no sentence can help ease that pain.’
When sentencing Davidson at Parramatta’s District Court, Judge James Bennett said Davidson’s menacing, dangerous and aggressive driving over a significant period leading up to the tragic event showed he had abandoned all responsibility to the road safety of others.
The tragedy was inevitable, but the magnitude of the tragedy extended to the unimaginable, Judge Bennett said.
At the time, 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.
Davidson, the son of a former policeman, had been sitting poolside with his housemates drinking Vodka Cruisers and beers, having his first drink about 7am before consuming drugs and driving that fateful morning.
Danny and Leila Abdallah, parents of three of the children who were killed, have previously said they had forgiven the driver
The children were on their way to get ice-cream when Davidson ploughed into them on February 1
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.’
After Davidson’s sentencing, Mr Abdallah said his main disappointment lay in Australian culture’s love of drugs and alcohol.
‘That’s where my frustration is, more than the driver.’
Davidson’s letter of apology stated that he is heartbroken to have hurt such beautiful families by his horrid actions.
He said that he would do anything to relive that day sober and never leaving the house.
Davidson will now be eligible for parole on January 31, 2035.
HOW THE OATLANDS TRAGEDY UNFOLDED
* Seven children were riding their bikes along the footpath of Beddington Road, Oatlands, just before 8pm on February 1
* The children were on the way to buy ice cream when a Mitsubishi 4WD allegedly ploughed into them
*Residents raced to children’s aid and frantically tried to save them while waiting for emergency services
*Four children – including a boy, two of his sisters and a family friend – died at the scene
* Another boy, ten, was rushed to hospital with critical head injuries but is now in a stable condition
* Two girls were taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries
* Driver Samuel Davidson, then 29, underwent roadside breath test and allegedly returned positive result
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