'We ask justice to be served': Mothers of Oatlands crash victims react to driver’s expected guilty plea

Leila Geagea, the mother of three siblings who died in the horrific Oatlands car crash in February, says she 'forgave' the driver, who told a Sydney court on Thursday he plans to plead guilty to four counts of manslaughter.

Mother Bridget Sakr (centre left) and partner Craig Mackenzie (centre right), along with Leila Geagea (left) and Danny Adballah (right)

Mother Bridget Sakr (centre left) and partner Craig Mackenzie (centre right), along with Leila Geagea (left) and Danny Adballah (right) Source: AAP

Abdallah siblings Sienna, 8, Angelina, 12, and Antony, 13, were killed along with their cousin Veronique Sakr, 13, when a ute mounted the curb in the Sydney suburb of Oatlands on February 1. 

A fifth child Charbel Kassas, 11, was taken to hospital in a critical condition while two girls, aged 10 and 13, suffered minor injuries.

Kassas was discharged from Westmead Children's Hospital in April,.
12-year-old Angelina, 13-year-old Antony and 8-year-old Sienna Abdallah were killed in the crash.
12-year-old Angelina, 13-year-old Antony and 8-year-old Sienna Abdallah were killed in the crash. Source: Supplied
Samuel William Davidson on Thursday told a Sydney court he plans to plead guilty to seven charges in relation to the incident, including four counts of manslaughter. 

Ms Geagea, the mother of three of the victims told SBS Arabic24 that she “forgave” Davidson for the incident, but “welcomes the guilty plea”, along with her husband Danny and Bridget, the mother of Sakr. 

“We said before we forgave him because we need to live in peace and to demonstrate the love of God to our kids and allow God to work in our lives but at the same time we asked justice to be served and to be fully served and we have faith that justice will take its course. 

“To everyone who is alive on this Earth, treasure your loved one and treasure all the good things that you have in life because you don't know when it will be taken away from you."
Victim Veronique Sakr picture left and her mother Bridget Sakr praying in church.
An image of the victim Veronique Sakr left and her mother Bridget Sakr praying in church. Source: AAP
A total of 34 charges were levelled against Davidson with all but seven of them dropped. 

Of the seven charges that Davidson said he would plead guilty, were two counts of causing bodily harm by misconduct while in charge of a motor vehicle and a single count of aggravated dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm while under the influence of a drug. 

Ms Geagea called on everyone who gets behind the wheel to act responsibly while driving. 

“To people who are driving, please be careful when you get behind the wheel and make sure you're okay to drive. Don't drink and drive and take drugs.” 

Bridget Sakr said the court hearing "shows that justice is very important for us, to see that a court in Australia will trial the driver for his actions".  

"Forgiveness is about being able to live in the present, being able to show our families and loved ones and particularly our children they can't have hatred in their hearts, that we have to live by the words of Jesus and act them, and to love one another."


Ms Sakr said her horrific experience reminded her of the importance of forgiveness. 

"I want to teach my son that love is the most important thing and to focus on good things because hatred is contagious, and it causes anger and causes bad outcomes. Forgiveness is part of our day every day, in the way we approach the whole situation and these tragedies in life. 

"But justice is just as important. You must be accountable for your actions. You must be accountable for what you've done, and we have great faith in the Australian court system." 

Ms Sakr said she didn't attend the court hearing because "the most important thing for us is to focus on our families, to focus on my son, to focus on my every day in my life, to focus on my relationship". 

Davidson was remanded in custody, where he’s been since the day of the crash, and he will face court again on October 22.


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By Abdallah Kamal, May Rizk, Peter Theodosiou


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