An Australian Woman Awaits Trial Over Unattainable Bail
An Australian woman, Lisa Cunningham, is awaiting trial in the United States for charges related to the unfortunate death of her stepdaughter. Cunningham and her husband, Germayne Cunningham—a former police detective—are detained in Arizona. They face serious allegations including the death of Sanaa Cunningham in February 2017.
Allegations and Background
Court documents suggest the couple subjected Sanaa to severe mistreatment, allegedly shutting her in various parts of their property, restraining her with cable ties, and neglecting to provide necessary medical care. These distressing accusations form the core of their pending legal trials.
Sanaa Cunningham, who tragically passed away in February 2017, aged seven. (Supplied: )
Bail Set at $500,000
Lisa Cunningham and her husband have been held in jail since 2018. Recently, prosecutors withdrew the intent to seek the death penalty, which opened the possibility of bail. However, the judge set Cunningham’s bail at $500,000—a sum deemed “unattainable” by her lawyer, Eric Kessler. This decision keeps Cunningham in detention as her trial is scheduled to begin in July.
Kessler has expressed that the ruling is regrettable, especially given the prior conditions allowing for release when the death penalty was first sought. A secured bond, allowing property to be posted as collateral, remains her only avenue for release.
Lisa Cunningham’s lawyer, Eric Kessler, argues that the $500,000 bond requirement is “unattainable”. (ABC News)
Kessler plans to appeal the bail decision, though the court of appeals may not necessarily accept the case.
Prosecutorial Stance
The attorney’s office firmly opposed the release of the Cunninghams on anything less than the $500,000 bond. In court filings, they argued that the severity of the allegations and potential consequences warranted such a substantial bail amount.
Lisa and Germayne Cunningham have been charged with murder and child abuse. (Supplied: Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)
As the community and legal professionals await the trial’s outcome, attention remains on the difficult circumstances surrounding Lisa Cunningham’s detention. Her lawyer emphasizes that while the decision is challenging, they remain committed to seeking justice.
Keep following this story for updates as Lisa Cunningham’s trial date approaches.