The Oatlands crash victim’s families are ‘hurt’ and ‘bewildered’ at killer drivers act from prison
Oatlands crash driver, Samuel Davidson is pushing to have his sentence lowered for the second time, and it looks like tax payers will foot that legal bill again.
The Attorney-General is now looking into exactly who should be eligible to receive legal aid funding in NSW after it recently emerged the Oatlands crash driver is having his push for a shorter sentence funded by taxpayers.
Samuel William Davidson was speeding and under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he struck and killed siblings, 8yo Sienna Abdallah, 12yo Angelina and 13yo Antony and their cousin 11yo Veronique Sakr as they walked home after buying icecreams at Oatlands, in Sydney’s northwest, in February 2020.
The crash killer was sentenced to a maximum of 28 years in prison, however in July that sentence was reduced by six years in the Supreme Court of Criminal Appeal. Now he is aiming to have that sentence slashed again.
Samuel William Davidson is asking to have his sentence reduced for the second time.
One year on from the tragedy, Danny and Leila Abdallah, parents of three of the victims, shocked Australians everywhere when they publicly forgave Davidson.
“We chose to turn our tragedy into a greater goodness. We chose to carry our cross with dignity. We chose forgiveness and love over hatred…” said Leila at the time.
However, Davidson’s continual use of tax payer funding to appeal his sentence is not sitting well with the families of the victims, and the killer’s court bills have sparked a legal aid review.
Siblings, 8yo Sienna Abdallah, 12yo Angelina and 13yo Antony lost their lives in the horror Oatlands crash.
Bridget Sakr with daughter 11yo Veronique Sakr who lost her life in the nightmare incident in February 2022.
Grieving mother, Bridget Sakr spoke with the Daily Telegraph, expressing her “hurt” and “bewilderment” that Davidson, who killed her 11yo daughter Veronique in the horror crash was eligible for taxpayer-funded legal aid.
Her concerns were taken to Attorney-General Mark Speakman, who last week who said he would look into the criteria for who is eligible to receive legal aid funding.
“He said he’s going to undertake to investigate the criterion for legal aid,” Ms Sakr told the Daily Telegraph.
“I felt very positive, he did listen, he was empathetic, he did see how upset we were. Basically, he did take on what we had to say, and he did say. ‘I will aim to undertake a review of the criterion for legal aid and what constitutes legal aid’.”
Leila and Danny Abdallah, welcomed a sweet new daughter, Selena Angelina on Friday, 18th March.
“Thank God it went well, it felt so surreal when I saw her for the first time, she’s beautiful, I felt so happy I cried tears of joy,” proud mum, Leila Adballah told the Daily Telegraph.
“We’ve brought a new life into the world, I can’t believe how blessed we are after everything we’ve lost. She will carry on Sienna, Angelina and Anthony’s memories.
“She’s taught us life hits us with bad things but not to give up – we feel really blessed. She’s our seventh child, a little girl, I’m almost speechless.”
And her name is a sweet tribute to family lost.
“When I found out I was pregnant, I asked Liana to name the new baby and she said we should combine the names of her late sisters, Angelina and Sienna, so we called her Selena,” Leila said.
“Her middle name is Angelina in honor of my eldest daughter.”
Before her birth, Danny revealed that the family was “excited and happy” about welcoming a new family member.
“We’re looking forward to the new addition. We’re having a baby girl. As you’re aware, we lost two girls on the day of the tragedy. “We’re very grateful” he said.
After suffering such a significant loss, the family did consider honouring their lost children by sharing their names with the new baby, but decided against the move for very sweet reasons.
“We spoke about naming our daughter after the kids but it’s not fair on the child to have the identity of the other children,’’ the proud father explained.
“We wanted her to have the best possible start. I don’t feel it’s the right thing to name her after a child, after one of her siblings. The middle name might be Angelina or Sienna.’’
This beautiful new blessing is a welcome addition to the family for the couple’s children, Michael, Liana and Alex who have been “praying” for a sibling.
“My children prayed they could have another brother or sister,” Leila told The Daily Telegraph.
“This is a new life, a new beginning for the kids, it has given them a new purpose in life. And seeing them happy and giving them joy is my purpose in life now.”
Determined that their family not let the unspeakable tragedy impact the happiness of their children, the couple work hard to ensure that their children have as normal a life as possible.
“We don’t want to bring them down. We want them to get married and flourish and have full lives and dream again. That is what this new baby means,” Danny Abdallah said.
One year on from the tragedy, the grieving parents shocked Australians everywhere when they publicly forgave the driver who killed Sienna, 8, Angelina, 12, and Antony, 13, alongside cousin Veronique Sakr, 11, in the crash at Oatlands on February 1, 2020.
“FORGIVENESS gives you freedom and allows you to live your life peacefully,” Leila Abdallah said at the time.
One the anniversary of the tragic loss, the children’s families launched an annual memorial, i4Give Day “honouring our four little saints in heaven” while urging people to reflect on the importance of relationships in their lives.
“We chose to turn our tragedy into a greater goodness. We chose to carry our cross with dignity. We chose forgiveness and love over hatred…” said Leila.
“Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself.”
This incredible selfless act saw Leila named as 2021’s Mother Of The Year.
