A drunk and drugged 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.
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
Antony (far left), 13, Angelina (far right), 12, and Sienna Abdallah (front left), 9, were killed in the horror accident
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 on Friday in a majority decision, the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal concluded the term was manifestly excessive.
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
Davidson was resentenced to a term of 20 years with a non-parole period of 15 years.
The professional 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.
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
Veronique’s mother, Bridget, is devastated by the decision.
‘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 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 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.’
In sentencing Davidson at Parramatta’s District Court in April, Judge James Bennett said Davidson’s menacing, dangerous and aggressive driving over a significant period leading up to the tragic event showed all responsibility to the road safety of others was abandoned.
Danny and Leila Abdallah, parents of three of the children who were killed, have previously said they had forgiven the driver
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 on February 1, 2020.
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.’
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.
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 and that he would do anything to relive that day sober and never leaving the house.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk