Family's 'nightmare' as Aussie woman faces the death penalty

The family of an Australian woman facing the death penalty in the US says “she wouldn’t hurt a fly”.

Rob Topsfield, Lisa Cunningham’s uncle, does not believe that his niece could be guilty of the abuse and murder of her seven-year-old stepdaughter.

The 43-year-old and her American husband Germayne, a former police detective, are accused of the murder of his 7-year-old daughter Sanaa.

She died last year of a septic wound on her foot, left untreated for months.

Ms Cunningham’s family is in turmoil in Mannum, an hour east of Adelaide.

“No, no way,” Mr Topsfield said.

“She couldn’t do it, she couldn’t hurt a child,” Ms Cunningham’s aunty Vikki Topsfield said.

The little girl’s autopsy also found “…scars, injuries, and abrasions … on every plane of the victim’s body,” according to Prosecution documents.

But Ms Cunningham’s uncle and aunty say the allegations are completely out of character for their niece.

“She wouldn’t hurt a fly as far as we were concerned,” Rob Topsfield said.

Sanaa had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and the couple said she would injure herself.

However, neighbours told investigators they saw the young girl “…left in the backyard for hours to rake rocks and pick up dog faeces,” according to prosecution documents.

The Cunninghams are accused of “…zip-tying her to large water containers” or restraining her with a makeshift straight jacket.

Prosecutors are now seeking their execution.

Ms Cunningham’s family hopes that she will be found innocent and return to Mannum.

“I want her to be happy again, that’s right, and be a family again,” Ms Topsfield said.

Mr Topsfield added: “I’d just rather see her be able to come back to Australia and come home. It’s just, just like this has all been a nightmare.”

The mother of Sanaa has also spoken up.

“No child should ever have to go through anything like that,” Sylvia Norwood.

For now, Ms Cunningham remains behind bars in Phoenix, Arizona.