The quiet suburb of Oatlands in Sydney was shattered by an unimaginable tragedy when Samuel Davidson, a driver under the influence of alcohol and drugs, ploughed into a group of children, killing four and leaving a community in mourning.
Davidson, now serving a prison sentence, was three times over the legal alcohol limit and had cocaine in his system when his ute mounted the kerb and struck the children as they walked to buy ice cream in February 2020.
A Community's Heartbreak
The victims - siblings Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, and Sienna Abdallah, 9, along with their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11 - were remembered as vibrant, loving children whose lives were cut brutally short.
Their parents, Danny and Leila Abdallah, have shown extraordinary forgiveness since the tragedy, even publicly embracing Davidson's mother in court - a moment that moved the nation.
The Fateful Night
Court documents reveal Davidson had been drinking heavily at a pub before getting behind the wheel of his Mitsubishi Triton utility vehicle. Witnesses reported seeing the vehicle travelling at high speed before the catastrophic collision.
Forensic analysis showed Davidson was travelling between 133-135km/h in a 50km/h zone when he lost control, mounted the footpath and struck the children.
Justice Served
Judge James Bennett sentenced Davidson to a maximum of 28 years in prison, with a non-parole period of 21 years, describing the crash as "every parent's worst nightmare".
The judge noted Davidson's "profound moral culpability" given his extreme speed, intoxication and prior traffic offences.
A Family's Courage
In a remarkable display of compassion, the Abdallah family have channelled their grief into campaigning for road safety through the establishment of i4give Day and Foundation.
"Our faith teaches us forgiveness," Danny Abdallah told reporters outside court. "While our pain will never disappear, we choose to focus on saving other families from this nightmare."
The tragedy has sparked renewed calls for tougher penalties for drink driving offences across Australia, with campaigners arguing current laws don't adequately reflect the devastation caused.
