The father of one of the four children killed in the Oatlands tragedy has revealed he was dying of cancer.
Bob Sakr, Véronique Sakr’s father, shared on social media that he had been battling cancer for almost a year and had about two weeks left to live.
Véronique, 11, was killed on February 1, 2020, when Samuel William Davidson’s ute drove up a curb and rammed into her and her cousins Sienna Abdallah, Angelina Abdallah and Antony Abdallah as they walked to buy ice-creams.
Bob Sakr, Véronique Sakr’s father, has shared on social media that he has been battling cancer for almost a year and has about two weeks left to live
Mr Sakr said his cancer had “gone into attack mode” and doctors told him his life was coming to an end.
“I haven’t booked my ticket and I’m in no rush, but I’m preparing for what’s next,” he said.
“I’m not one to say goodbye, but I’d rather say, ‘See you next time’.”
Davidson was drunk and drugged when he rammed the four children.
He was first imprisoned for 28 years with a 21-year unconditional release period, but was sentenced again in 2022 to 20 years in prison with a 17-year unconditional release period, after his original sentence was waived. considered manifestly excessive.
Véronique’s mother, Bridget Sakr, said at the time that the reduced sentence was “unfair”.
“We have always said that forgiveness and justice are two different things,” she said.
“It was a crushing sentence apparently, but it was our children who were crushed.”
Pictured from left to right: Sienna Abdallah, eight, Véronique Sakr, 11, Antony Abdallah, 13, and Angelina Abdallah, 12, were killed driving alcohol and drugs Samuel Davidson in 2020
Samuel Davidson was originally jailed in April 2021 for 28 years with a 21-year unreleased period (pictured, Davidson’s arrest after the crash)
Davidson failed in an attempt earlier this year to reduce his sentence yet again, claiming he was given an unfair prison term due to the improper use of sentencing principles.
Stephen Odgers SC, representing Davidson, said Davidson was already of good character, with the offense leading to his first court appearance.
This meant that he had a good chance of being rehabilitated.
He said the way parole and non- parole periods were determined based on the length of the sentence meant that people with a better chance of rehabilitation were worse off.
“It is very strange that a person with a good outlook is worse off than a person with a bad outlook,” the lawyer told the court in March.
“But in New South Wales, good prospects for rehabilitation hurt you.”
Mr Odgers added that if the case were to be heard, the defense would raise the issue of Davidson’s ADHD, but admitted that was not a reason why the appeal should be granted.
Mr Sakr is seen kissing his daughter’s coffin during her funeral at Santa Sabina College Chapel in Sydney
Samuel William Davidson failed in his latest attempt to reduce his sentence after killing three members of the Abdallah family (above) and their cousin
Davidson said in a court appearance in May last year that his ADHD made life in prison difficult.
Crown prosecutor David Kell SC said at the time that he had stopped taking his ADHD medication several times before the tragedy and had used alcohol and illicit drugs.
Davison was driving erratically and speeding when he hit the children in Oatlands, north-west Sydney.
He had pleaded guilty to four counts of manslaughter and to charges relating to injuries to three other children in the crash.