Father disappointed after judge reduces sentence for driver who killed four children in Oatlands crash

The father of three children killed by a drunk and drugged driver in a horror crash has spoken out on the court ruling.

A father whose three children were killed by a drunk and drug-affected driver has slammed a shocking ruling to reduce the driver’s jail sentence.

Samuel Davidson was jailed for manslaughter after his erratic driving caused the deaths of three Abdallah siblings – Antony, 13, Angelina, 12 and Sienna, 8 – and their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11 at Oatlands in February 2020.

He also hit and injured three other children, one of whom sustained permanent brain injuries.

Davidson was driving at more than 130km/h with a lethal cocktail of alcohol and drugs in his system when he ploughed into the seven children from behind as they were walking to get ice cream.

Antony Abdallah, 13, one of the four Oatlands fatal crash victims. Picture: Supplied by Daniel Abdallah

His sister Sienna, 8. Picture: Supplied by Daniel Abdallah

Angelina Abdallah, 12. Picture: Supplied by Daniel Abdallah

Veronique Sakr, 11, was also killed in the horror crash.

Davidson blew three times the legal alcohol limit and had cocaine and party drug MDMA in his system when he crashed into the group of children.

The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of the four children and was sentenced to a maximum of 28 years in prison, with a non-parole period of 21 years.

On Friday, that sentence was reduced by eight years to a maximum of 20 years in jail, with at least 15 years to be spent behind bars.

During the appeal hearing in May, his lawyer argued the sentence was “crushing” and would be more “onerous” on Davidson because of his client’s attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The NSW Court of Criminal Appeals determined Davidson’s ADHD did not “materially contribute to the offending conduct” but found the original sentence was manifestly excessive.

Samuel William Davidson’s sentence was reduced by eight years on Friday.

“A sentence for an offence of criminal negligence which leaves a 29-year-old man of prior good character with good prospects of rehabilitation no prospect of release until he is 50 is indeed crushing and not proportionate to the totality of his criminality,” the judgment read.

“This is not a case of a ‘discount’ for multiple offending: there was but a single course of criminally negligent conduct, albeit one which had catastrophic consequences.”

While Judge Brereton emphasised Davidson’s “criminally negligent conduct” and the horrific result, he reminded the court the 32-year-old had no prior record.

“His one act of criminally negligent driving had catastrophic consequences,” he said.

“However, it cannot be overlooked that the applicant’s crimes are not crimes of intent.”

Bridget Sakr, who lost her daughter Veronique in the crash, said on Friday the decision had ‘devastated’ her.

The facts show Davidson had been on a bender and moments before the crash, he drove dangerously through a red light and on the wrong side of the road as he raised his middle finger at another driver with children in their car.

Justice Brereton upheld the appeal upon finding the sentence was excessive punishment for a single criminal act. Davidson will be eligible for parole on January 31, 2035.

After the decision was handed down, Veronique’s mother, Bridget, said she was “devastated”.

“This is just not right,” she told The Daily Telegraph.

“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.’’

Danny Abdallah and wife Leila made headlines around the world after they publicly forgave Davidson for killing their three children.

The Abdallah family says they forgive Davidson for killing their children.

They have since founded the I4Give foundation and welcomed a seventh child, a baby girl named Selina.

Speaking to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs NRL players last month, Mr Abdallah said it was important to forgive Davidson for his other four children.

“On the night of the tragedy when Antony, Angelina and Sienna tragically died, we had to make a choice about how we can keep the rest of our kids together in the best possible way,” Mr Abdallah said.

“The only road to that was through forgiveness and by forgiving the driver. That attitude has helped us to move forward.”

Mr Abdallah maintained his attitude after learning that Davidson’s sentence had been slashed, but admitted he felt “let down” by the justice system.

“I’m not angry with the driver but I’m just disappointed by the justice system,” he told 2GB’s Jim Wilson.

Leila and Danny Abdallah are saddened by the result of the appeal. Picture: David Swift

“At the end of the day, what they’re doing is giving permission to other people to take drugs and drink alcohol and drive because the sentence is going to be not much.”

Mr Abdallah said the driver’s appeal had re-traumatised the family by forcing the family to live through the tragedy again. He said the family are serving their “life sentence”, but questioned the value the justice system placed on a life.

“It’s not about me and my family, it’s the next family that goes through this,” he said.

“What example have we shown society when someone does something like that? What’s it going to take for a life sentence? How many kids?”

Daughter Liana, who was injured in the horror smash, told The Daily Telegraph earlier this year that she also forgave the driver after seeing him in court.

“When I saw the driver in court, I realised he was still young and has got his whole life to lead in prison. I forgave him, everyone makes mistakes,” she said.

Danny and Leila Abdallah made headlines for forgiving the driver. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

The Abdallah family has been fighting for a memorial for their children to be created at the perimeter of the Oatlands Golf Club, near where the children were killed.

But the club has been pushing ahead with plans to develop the land after it rejected several designs for the commemorative garden.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison stepped in late last year to say he was “very distressed” by the club’s failure to help the children’s families.