{"id":117677,"date":"2021-03-19T17:25:44","date_gmt":"2021-03-19T17:25:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/?p=117677"},"modified":"2021-03-19T17:25:44","modified_gmt":"2021-03-19T17:25:44","slug":"drug-driver-mowed-down-7-children-like-a-lawnmower-over-grass-killing-4-moments-after-flipping-middle-finger-at-a-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/world-news\/drug-driver-mowed-down-7-children-like-a-lawnmower-over-grass-killing-4-moments-after-flipping-middle-finger-at-a-car\/","title":{"rendered":"Drug driver mowed down 7 children 'like a lawnmower over grass' killing 4 moments after flipping middle finger at a car"},"content":{"rendered":"

A DRUG driver mowed down seven children "like a lawnmower over grass" moments after flipping his middle finger at another car.<\/p>\n

Samuel William Davidson faces decades behind bars for the tragic collision which killed four last year. <\/p>\n


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The devastated father of three of the four children killed by the speeding driver has said he has "ripped my heart out and ran over it over". <\/p>\n

Danny Abdallah said in his victim impact statement read out at the killer's sentence hearing today: "You ran my children over like a lawnmower would cut grass."<\/p>\n

Siblings Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, and Sienna Abdallah, 9, and their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11, were killed when the Mitsubishi Triton Davidson was driving mounted a footpath and crashed into them, news.com.au reports. <\/p>\n

The incident happened near Oatlands Golf Club near Sydney, Australia, on February 1, 2020. <\/p>\n

Davidson had spent the day drinking and snorting drugs before he got into his car. <\/p>\n

A witness reported him tailgating her and swerving from side to side as he drove shirtless laughing. <\/p>\n

He was travelling at more than 133km\/h (80mph) when he lost control – at least 80km\/h (50mph) above the speed limit. <\/p>\n

Just moments before his vehicle mounted the kerb and ploughed into the group of children he was seen sticking his middle finger up at another car. <\/p>\n

As the ute came to a stop he jumped out and exclaimed: "What have I done? I have killed people. I am going to jail."<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A fifth child was left in a critical condition and spent 80 days in hospital but survived, while two others were also injured in the crash.<\/p>\n

The seven children had been walking to buy ice creams when they were hit from behind at about 7.50pm. <\/p>\n

Mr Abdallah said the children\u2019s lives were taken "in the blink of an eye". <\/p>\n

But while Mr Abdallah blames Davidson, he also blames a culture which promotes excessive drugs and alcohol.<\/p>\n

Addressing Davidson, he added: "This culture needs to stop, because of this culture I buried half of my children.<\/p>\n

"While you were destroying your life with drugs and alcohol I was building a life for my children<\/p>\n

"While you were out partying destroying your life, I was sowing into my life good seeds that future generations would reap.<\/p>\n

"Whatever sentence you get, it will never be enough for the loss we have had."<\/p>\n


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Davidson had begun drinking at 7am and had his last drink at 7.40pm.<\/p>\n

He had also snorted cocaine at about 11am before walking with friend Daniel Newman to buy more to alcohol. <\/p>\n

Davidson, 30, pleaded guilty to charges including four counts of manslaughter, each carrying a maximum 25-year prison sentence, at the District Court.<\/p>\n

The professional truck driver also pleaded guilty to three charges relating to the injuries caused to the other children, including a boy who has suffered permanent brain damage.<\/p>\n

Mr Abdallah described his children in turn as his "best mate", "little helper" and "little princess".<\/p>\n

And Leila Abdallah said she felt like her "heart had been pierced with a sword". <\/p>\n

She added: "I am no longer the same person. My family has been torn apart.<\/p>\n

"My heart is broken but I'm not going to fall because I have the holy spirit carrying me through."<\/p>\n


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The father of Veronique, also killed in the crash, said the last time he saw his only daughter was when they had celebrated his birthday on January 28. <\/p>\n

He added: "The only time a father should walk his princess down a church aisle is for her wedding \u2026 instead I carried her down the aisle for her funeral."<\/p>\n

And Bridget Sakr said her daughter's death "will be etched in my mind, my body and my soul for as long as I live". <\/p>\n

Davidson's lawyer Peter Nematalla, SC, read a letter to his victim's families taking full responsibility for the "horrible accident".<\/p>\n

It said: "It was an accident and I wish this never happened. And I pray for you every day, and I was really touched by your program on Channel 7 as you looked like such (a) beautiful family. <\/p>\n

"I wake up sad every day knowing that I am responsible for all of this. And it doesn\u2019t get much worse than that."<\/p>\n

Davidson was arrested at the scene a blood alcohol content of 0.182, and later 0.15, per cent \u2014 three times the limit in Australia.<\/p>\n

He will be sentenced on April 9, 2021.<\/p>\n