Notorious driver who killed four kids of Abdallah family wants jail term cut because he has ADHD

The man who killed four children walking together to an ice cream shop is appealing his prison sentence on the grounds it ‘is manifestly excessive” and he had ADHD while driving drunk and on drugs.

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 children had been walking to buy ice-creams when the 31-year-old ploughed into them after his ute mounted a kerb on Bettington Rd, at Oatlands, in Sydney‘s northwest on February 1 in 2020.

Davdison was sentenced last year to a maximum 28-year prison sentence with a minimum 21 year sentence which does not expire until 2041.

In his bid to have the prison sentence slashes, which will be heard on Monday in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal, Davidson will argued that the term is ‘manifestly excessive’.

The second ground listed for his appeal is that the sentencing judge made an ‘error in holding  no causal link between ADHD and commission of offences’. 

The appeal is listed before Justices Paul Brereton, Christine Adamson and Natalie Adams. 

Samuel Davidson was jailed for 28 years for mowing down and killing four children aged under 14 when he was drunk and on drugs, but now claims it was an ‘excessive’ sentence and he had ADHD at the time

Immediately after Samuel William Davidson mowed down a group of children on a Sydney footpath, killing four of them, he tested positive for alcohol and drugs

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

Davidson is two-and-a-half years into his sentence and is not expected to be eligible for parole until 2041. 

Both the Abdullah children’s parents Danny and Leila and Sakr families have shown remarkable grace in the wake of the horrific incident, with Danny saying said he forgave Davidson ‘for your sake, for my sake, and most importantly for my family’s sake’.

But he also 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.’ 

One bright spot in the lives of the Abdallahs was in March this year when Danny and Leila welcomed a new baby girl, who they called Selina because it echoed the names of Sienna and Angelina. 

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One bright spot in the lives of the Abdallahs was in March when Danny and Leila welcomed a new baby girl, who they called Selina because it echoed the names of Sienna and Angelina.

The Abdallah family as they were before the tragedy which took the lives of Antony (left) and two of his sisters, Sienna and Angelina 

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. 

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.  

Bridget Sakr (centre) and Craig Mackenzie (right) arrive at Parramatta District Court for Davidson’s sentencing

In a statement Leila Abdallah (pictured) said she, her husband and the parents of Veronique had forgiven Davidson, referring to their Christian faith and their hope he will find God and repent

 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.

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.’ 

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 horrid actions and that he would do anything to relive that day sober and never leaving the house. 

Leila Abdallah (pictured) lost three of her six children in horrific circumstances and told Davidson in court in March: ‘You’ve killed us all. I’m no longer living. Just existing.’

After the crash, Davidson appeared distressed and was heard saying: ‘What have I done? … I have killed people … I am going to jail.’