Lisa Cunningham
This Sunday 7News Spotlight speaks exclusively to an Aussie mum accused of the unthinkable.
Did Lisa Cunningham kill her seven-year-old stepdaughter Sanaa, or was her death a medical tragedy?
In her first on-camera interview, Cunningham speaks candidly from inside a maximum-security prison in Arizona about the devastation of losing her family and the impact of eight years' incarceration without trial.
Lisa said, "It's always been such a mystery to us why it is easier to believe that we tried to slowly kill her with this bizarre, delayed death torture story than it is to simply accept the fact that she entered into the early onset period of serious mental illness."
The alleged killer details the final 10 months of her stepdaughter's life, a time in which prosecutors claim she and her husband, Germayne, subjected Sanaa to abuse that ultimately caused her death.
The exclusive story also features never-before-seen family videos and text messages that prosecutors claim prove their case, texts that Lisa says don't tell the full story.
"If you look at our lives from a distance and you go through our messages and the way we communicated with each other, you are going to form your own opinions," Lisa said.
Reporter Ashlee Mullany said: "The story of Lisa Cunningham is confronting whichever way you look at it. This is either a case of an Australian mother accused of an unthinkable crime, or a woman unjustly stripped of her freedom, family and voice for eight years.
"I covered Lisa's first court appearance after her arrest in Arizona almost a decade ago and what should have been her temporary holding cell has become her home for all these years, without conviction. The wheels of justice turn slowly, but this has been an agonisingly long wait for answers.
"Lisa is adamant she has nothing to hide and wants to share her story with Australia."
Trailer
Recently Updated Shows
Dark Matter
Hailed as one of the best sci-fi novels of the decade, Dark Matter is a story about the road not taken. The series follows Jason Dessen, a physicist, professor, and family man who – one night while walking home on the streets of Chicago – is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Wonder quickly turns to nightmare when he tries to return to his reality amid the multiverse of lives he could have lived. In this labyrinth of mind-bending realities, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from the most terrifying, unbeatable foe imaginable: himself.
Murdoch Mysteries
Set in Toronto at the dawn of the 20th century, Murdoch Mysteries is a one-hour drama series that explores the intriguing world of William Murdoch, a methodical and dashing detective who pioneers innovative forensic techniques to solve some of the city's most gruesome murders. Murdoch's colleagues include the love of his life, coroner and psychiatrist Dr. Julia Ogden, a staunch ally who shares the detective's fascination for science; Constable George Crabtree, Murdoch's eager but sometimes naïve right-hand man; Inspector Brackenreid, Murdoch's skeptical yet reluctantly supportive boss; and coroner Dr. Emily Grace, Dr. Ogden's protégé.
Bob's Burgers
The series follows Bob who runs Bob's Burgers, with the help of his wife and their three kids. Bob has big ideas about burgers, but the rest of the clan falls short on service. Despite the greasy counters and lousy location, the Belchers are determined to make every "Grand Re-Re-Re-opening" a success. Bob's wife, Linda, stands by her man and often does so by bursting into song. Their eldest daughter, 13-year-old Tina has a slight obsession with boys and zombies. Middle child Gene is an aspiring musician with a thirst for life. Louise is the bunny ears-wearing youngest daughter with an off-kilter sense of humor that makes her somewhat of a liability in the kitchen – and with the public.