Australian mom, 43, and her ex-cop husband face the DEATH PENALTY over the 'murder and torture of his daughter, 7, who died after being tied to a water tank and forced to pick up dog feces with her bare hands'
- Lisa Cunningham, 43, is charged with the murder of her stepdaughter Sanaa
- The seven-year-old girl was allegedly abused and neglected by the Australian
- At an hearing a judge has now said she could face the death penalty if convicted
An Australian mother-of-four could face the death penalty if convicted over the murder of her seven-year-old stepdaughter in Arizona.
Lisa Cunningham, 43, and her husband Germayne Cunningham, 39, allegedly abused and neglected Sanaa Cunningham, who died from pneumonia and complications from sepsis in February 2017.
The couple are accused of zip-tying the child to a water tank in a garage and neglecting to treat a septic wound to her foot.
Sanaa was also made to pick up dog faeces by the pair with her bare hands and restrained in a straight-jacket-like long-sleeved shirt, the prosecution allege.
On Monday, a Maricopa County judge ruled Lisa and Germayne Cunningham would face the death penalty if convicted.
Lisa and Germayne Cunningham (pictured), the former of whom has lived in the USA for 20 years and comes from Adelaide, could face the death penalty following their hearing in October if found guilty
Lisa Cunningham, 43, (pictured) allegedly abused and neglected Sanaa Cunningham, who died from pneumonia and complications from sepsis in February 2017, by zip-tying her to a water tank in her garage and neglected to treat a septic wound to their foot
Prosecutors allege the restraints Cunningham used to tie up Sanaa (pictured) meant she was unable to expel liquid from her lungs, exacerbating her pneumonia and leaving her unresponsive
Prosecutors allege Sanaa was unable to expel liquid from her lungs as a result of being restrained, exacerbating her pneumonia and leaving her unresponsive.
According to The Phoenix New Times, Sanaa's death went unreported by state welfare agents for months before a grand jury charged them with 10 counts of child abuse and one of first-degree murder in December.
The couple were allowed to remain free until Monday, when judge Michael Kemp ruled prosecutors had enough evidence to justify their aim to seek the death penalty.
Cunningham and her husband Germayne Cunningham, 39, (pictured) are charged with 10 counts of child abuse and one of first-degree murder after Sanaa's death went unreported by state welfare agents for months
Sanaa Cunningham had pneumonia at the time of her death, and the prosecution allege the couple's neglect made her condition worse and left her unresponsive
He said: 'There were many warning signs with regard to her need for medical attention.
'This was more than reckless behaviour. This was more than a failure to provide care and it led to the child's death.'
But Lisa Cunningham's lawyer Taylor Fox argued doctors had differing views about what killed the seven-year-old - who noted the autopsy was inconclusive as to whether Sanaa was killed or died by accident.
Share this article
Mr Fox also said the accused called a doctor two days before she died, but had to wait until Monday to book an appointment.
Lisa and Germayne Cunningham, a former Phoenix policeman, have been refused bail, with a hearing date schedule for October.
The method of death penalty in Arizona is lethal injection, but a criminal convicted before November 23 1992 can also opt to be killed by gas inhalation.
No-one has been executed by death penalty in the state since 2014.
The Australian had lived in the US for 20 years and is eligible for $500,000 in funds from the Attorney-General - which provides support to Australians facing the death penalty overseas.
Most watched News videos
- Shocking scenes at Dubai airport after flood strands passengers
- Prince Harry makes surprise video appearance from his Montecito home
- Chaos in Dubai morning after over year and half's worth of rain fell
- Moment Met Police arrests cyber criminal in elaborate operation
- Prince William resumes official duties after Kate's cancer diagnosis
- Shocking scenes in Dubai as British resident shows torrential rain
- Shocking moment school volunteer upskirts a woman at Target
- 'Inhumane' woman wheels CORPSE into bank to get loan 'signed off'
- Sweet moment Wills handed get well soon cards for Kate and Charles
- Jewish campaigner gets told to leave Pro-Palestinian march in London
- Mel Stride: Sick note culture 'not good for economy'
- Appalling moment student slaps woman teacher twice across the face
