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Alleged drunk driver expected to plead guilty to manslaughter of four children in Oatlands

By Sally Rawsthorne

The allegedly drunk and drug-affected driver who killed four children walking on a footpath in Sydney's west in February is expected to plead guilty to manslaughter.

Antony, Sienna and Angelina Abdallah and their cousin Veronique Sakr were killed when Samuel William Davidson's ute allegedly left the road and hit a group of seven children walking together in Oatlands on February 1.

Court documents seen by the Herald allege that Mr Davidson, a truck driver who lived just around the corner from the scene of the horrific crash, had run a red light as he returned home from a service station and was driving too fast on Bettington Road "allowing his vehicle to mount a kerb and travel on a footpath before impacting with a group of seven children".

Sienna, Angelina and Antony Abdallah.

Sienna, Angelina and Antony Abdallah.

"The ability of Samuel Davidson to drive was very substantially impaired by the fact the accused was under the influence of a combination of intoxicating liquor and MDMA," the documents say.

Breath-tested at the scene, Mr Davidson allegedly returned a blood alcohol reading of .150.

Veronique Sakr, aged 11.

Veronique Sakr, aged 11.

Mr Davidson, 30, appeared briefly in Parramatta Local Court on Thursday morning. His lawyer Michelle Duncan indicated he would plead guilty when the matter returns to the same court in October.

Mr Davidson will also plead guilty to aggravated dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm under the influence of a drug and two counts of causing bodily harm by misconduct while in charge of a motor vehicle.

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The Abdallah and Sakr families were not in court on Thursday morning but released a statement.

'We're determined to spend time with our children who are still with us and remain in constant prayer for the strength we need to see us through this time," the families said.

Mother Leila Abdallah at the scene where three of her children died in Oatlands.

Mother Leila Abdallah at the scene where three of her children died in Oatlands.Credit: Edwina Pickles

"Our trust is in our Australian judicial system, and expect the outcome will be in accordance with true justice by the governing laws of this nation which we love," they said.

In the days following the tragedy, the mother of three of the children Leila Abdallah told reporters she "can't hate" Mr Davidson and forgave him.

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"I think in my heart to forgive him, but I want the court to be fair. It's all about fairness. I'm not going to hate him, because that's not who we are," she said at the scene of the crash, surrounded by flowers, teddy bears and hand-made signs paying tribute to her children and their cousin.

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Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/alleged-drunk-driver-expected-to-plead-guilty-to-manslaughter-of-four-children-in-oatlands-20200903-p55s2j.html