Brother, 13, of girl killed in horrific car accident pays a unique tribute to her
The older brother of a young girl run down by an alleged drink-driver has paid a unique tribute to his sister.
Michael Sakr, 13, led a band of drummers ahead of the hearse carrying Veronique Sakr’s coffin while her classmates lined the streets in a guard of honour following her funeral in Strathfield, Sydney, on Tuesday.
Veronique, 11, was getting ice cream with her cousins in the suburb of Oatlands when she was run down and killed 10 days ago.
She died at the scene alongside her cousins, Abdallah siblings Sienna, 8, Angelina, 12, and Antony, 13.
Earlier on Tuesday, Veronique’s family said she had a "beautiful and unrivalled" relationship with her older sibling.
"When Michael was told about the tragedy he asked 'Dad, how do I do it?' I asked 'Do what?' Michael said 'Live my life without her?'" a statement released by Veronique’s family said.
The heartbreaking tribute was issued by her dad Bob Sakr, mum Bridget Sakr, her brother Michael and Ms Sakr's partner Craig Mackenzie.
Veronique, who had just started grade six at Santa Sabina College, was "a bright spark with an infectious smile and a cheeky grin who could hold her own in any company", the family said.
"Veronique had an incredible sense of compassion and empathy for others. She always opened her kind heart to everyone who was in need of a friend."
Mourners at the 11 year old’s packed funeral wore her favourite colour - blue. White doves were released as Veronique's coffin was carried out of the chapel.
Her grieving mother told the large crowd her daughter “carried such wisdom. She could read between the lines on anything”.
"She would look at you with those amazing eyes. They would change colour between blue, grey and green depending on what she wore and the weather."
Mrs Sakr, like others who knew Veronique, often wondered why her daughter had no attachment to material possessions.
"It now makes sense to me," she said.
"She never belonged to this world. She belonged to the spiritual world and therefore earthly possessions meant nothing to her."
Monsignor Shora Maree said Veronique had lived a short life but "one of huge quality".
"One of her teachers said that, at the end of the day, no matter how tired they would be, whenever they saw Veronique her smile and joy gave them a lift," Mons Shora said during the service.
About 2000 people filled Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral in Harris Park on Monday to farewell her three cousins.
Samuel William Davidson, 29, was allegedly three times the legal blood alcohol limit when he drove into the children.
He's been charged with 20 offences including four counts of manslaughter.
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