A convicted multiple child killer has knelt in prayer and received Holy Communion alongside the father of three of the children he killed
The two men then recited the Lord’s Prayer together before embracing in the presence of a priest, inside a New South Wales maximum security prison.
This extraordinary and powerful act of grace was captured in a 7NEWS Spotlight program first broadcast on August 17 and since seen on YouTube more than nine million times.
This incredible story of forgiveness and reconciliation has been ongoing ever since drugged and drunk driver Sam Davidson lost control of his ute in Sydney’s western suburb of Oatlands and drove into a group of seven children who were walking along the footpath to buy ice creams.
PARENTS OF CHILD CRASH VICTIMS FORGIVE THEIR KILLER
Three of Danny and Leila Abdallah’s children — Antony (13), Angelina (12), and Sienna (8) died along with their cousin Veronique Sakr (11).
The other three survived, one with brain damage.
What happened next touched hearts across Australia.
The Abdallahs who are devout Christians went to the scene of the tragedy where Leila publicly expressed her forgiveness for the driver.
WHY DANNY ABDALLAH WAS QUICK TO FORGIVE
Danny reflected: “That day I was faced with a question. A question no father should ever be asked. What are you going to do? “
“You can either lose all your family by seeking revenge and remaining bitter.”
“Or you can forgive and only lose half your family.”
I forgave the driver that tragically killed our children and the reason I forgave him was I wanted to be obedient to our Lord and Saviour and honour Him at whatever cost.”
WHY LEILA ABDALLAH WAS QUICK TO FORGIVE
Leila Abdallah explained what she did soon after the tragedy: “I went back to the scene and I knelt down and I prayed seven times.”
“It was The Lord’s Prayer which is the most powerful prayer and says Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
“And I saw Jesus on the cross. And I saw him saying. Forgive them, Father, for they do not know what they do.“
DANNY VISITS SAM AND FINDS HE’S BECOME A CHRISTIAN
Two years ago Danny went to visit Sam Davidson in the Cessnock Correction Centre where he’s set to stay until 2035.
“It was a Holy Spirit moment. That day I felt the presence of my children around me in the prison.’
But he also saw Sam’s pain, guilt and regret over what he’d done.
He was buoyed to find that Sam had become a Christian in jail.
“His conversion to Christ blew me away. He is now a Christian who prays every day, reads his Bible.”
DANNY EXPLAINS WHY SAM BECAME A CHRISTIAN
“I asked Sam, Why?” He goes: ‘Because I want what you have.”
“Your act of forgiveness is the reason why I wanted to unite myself with Jesus.”
“I was in isolation as everyone in the prison was furious for the crime I had committed.”
“When the inmates in the prison saw your documentary The Blink of an Eye and witnessed first-hand the act of forgiveness from your family. I was undeservedly left alone.’”
Sam told Spotlight his faith is “very real.”
SAM’S BACKGROUND
Sam who spends 17 hours per day in his cell, was a “very personable young man,” with ADHD, according to a former school teacher, and known to be honest and reliable.
He had no criminal history.
But the death of his beloved older sister from cystic fibrosis pushed him into depression, drink and drugs.
He told the program he wished the tragedy had never happened and he thought about the Abdallah children “all the time.”
DANNY SEES NO POINT IN SAM STAYING LOCKED UP
Danny has privately met Sam several times over the past two years.
He said he had “100 percent” forgiven him and saw no point in him continuing in prison.
He pointed out that the prison sentence may serve the community’s sense of righteousness, but what he wanted was his children back with him, which was impossible.
DANNY CHECKS ON SAM’S PARENTS AS THEY ARE ALSO ‘VICTIMS’
Danny also checks on Sam’s parents regularly to ensure their welfare.
They are also Christians who gave Sam the Bible he now reads in prison.
Danny said the tragedy had equally affected them and acknowledged they are also victims.
SAM WELCOMED INTO ABDALLAH FAMILY
Sam Davidson has also been welcomed into the Abdallah family, which has humbled the prisoner.
Even the Abdallah kids pray every night for Sam.
“He’s impacted my life just as much as my parents have, just as much as my siblings and just as much as my children and my wife,” said Danny .
Sam responded by saying: “I’ll look at Danny like a godfather. I just want to be everything like him, and I’ve got a lot to learn from him.”
The pair speak regularly — often about spiritual things and the church.
‘RESTORATIVE JUSTICE’ MEETING
When they met in front of the TV cameras as part of a rare Restorative Justice success story, Sam proudly wore a large cross over his prison greens.
They greeted each other with a hug, recited the Lord’s Prayer together, took communion together and hugged again.
Prison chaplain Deacon Gerard McCarthy told Spotlight he had never seen anything like the total transformation of Sam who entered prison a broken man.
He declared it was “nothing short of a miracle.”
“SAM DAVIDSON WILL BECOME A TRAILBLAZER FOR THE GOSPEL”
The chaplain predicted that Sam Davidson will become a trailblazer when he’s out of jail in 10 years.
“He will share the Gospel by living the Good News.”
Danny says his family’s relationship with Sam will always be there.
Sam says thanks to the Abdallahs’ grace and forgiveness, he has hope and a second chance of life.
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