Cunningham needs medical help – sister

‘Something must have happened to make him turn out like this’

Hot-headed former fitness trainer Brent Cunningham was a far cry from the cocky youngster people love to hate when he appeared in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Arrested on Sunday after his father Malcolm, 56, laid complaints of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and domestic violence, Cunningham constantly checked the courtroom door as if hoping to see family or friends arrive to support him.

But with the exception of his sister, Trishke, no one else arrived.

With his white hoody – worn when he was arrested the previous day – dirty and stained, he looked around nervously and asked for his sister.

A well-dressed and stoic-looking Trishke spent the morning waiting for her brother to appear but had to leave due to work commitments.

After lunch, when his case was called, Cunningham was heard asking his lawyer where she was.

Cunningham’s case was postponed and he will appear in court today when a provisional bail application date will be set.

Speaking yesterday afternoon, Trishke was frank about the difficulties her family was facing following the 23-year-old’s arrest on assault charges – his second arrest in just a week.

- Eleanor Douglas-Meyers