A drunk and drugged driver who killed four children while they walked along a Sydney footpath to buy ice-creams has had his jail term reduced by eight years. Samuel William Davidson was originally sentenced to 28 years in prison, but the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal resentenced him to 20 years with a non-parole period of 15 years.
Davidson struck Sienna Abdallah, eight, her siblings Angelina, 12, and Antony, 13, and their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11, in Oatlands, north-west Sydney, on 1 February 2020. He was driving erratically and speeding when his ute mounted a kerb. The professional truck driver pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the four deaths and to three charges for injuries to other children.
In a majority decision, justices Paul Brereton and Natalie Adams found the original aggregate sentence excessive. Justice Adams noted that Davidson's one act of criminally negligent driving had catastrophic consequences, but considered his prior good character, genuine remorse, and low risk of re-offending. The dissenting judge, Christine Adamson, argued the original sentence was not excessive given the seriousness of the crimes.
Danny Abdallah, father of three of the victims, wrote a letter stating no sentence would ever compensate for their loss. The court acknowledged the need to balance grief with sentencing principles. Davidson's sentence was reduced despite the tragic outcome, with parole eligibility after 15 years.
