On Wednesday, two bereaved parents as well as 12 other members of an Australian fringe religious group accused of killing an 8-year-old girl by denying her medication for diabetes were found guilty of manslaughter.
Elizabeth Rose Struhs died on Jan. 7, 2022, at her family’s home in Toowoomba in Queensland state after six days without her prescribed insulin shots for type-1 diabetes.
BBC reported that the congregation had prayed for and sang to the girl whose health was deteriorating as she lay in bed at home.
The father of the deceased, Jason Richard Struhs (53), and the leader in the family’s “Saints” religious group, Brendan Luke Stevens (63), were both charged with the murder of the victim. However, Queensland Supreme Court Judge Martin Burns found them guilty of manslaughter.
Burns found 12 other members of the congregation guilty of manslaughter, including Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs (49), the mother of the victim, and Zachary Alan Struhs (22), the victim’s brother. All those charged were found guilty.
All 14 were placed in custody pending their court appearance on February 11, for the sentencing. Each could face a maximum prison sentence of life.
Outside the court, Jayde Struhs (the adult sister of the victim) told reporters that she was pleased with the verdicts.
Jayde Struhs stated, “I have to admit that the system did not protect Elizabeth from the start.”
She added, “We’re only here because we didn’t do more to protect or remove her sooner from an egregiously unsafe situation at her home.”
Burns found the father and the religious leader not guilty of murder. The prosecution failed to prove that they showed reckless disregard for life.
Burns stated that it was possible that the father, because of the atmosphere that enveloped Struhs at the time, never realized that Elizabeth would likely die.
The judge found that the parents of the victim had “egregiously deviated from the standard care” when they were supported and encouraged by the other defendants.
According to BBC, the judge stated, “It cannot be disputed that Elizabeth was loved in almost every aspect.” “However due to a singular faith in the healing powers of God… Elizabeth was deprived of the one thing which would have most definitely kept her alive.”
Stevens, speaking on behalf of the defendants in the opening statements to the trial, argued that they had a reasonable faith that God would heal their child. All defendants spoke for themselves during the closing remarks.
Burns advised them to all get attorneys before they are sentenced.
The Saints is not associated with any established church in Australia. It has about two dozen members, from three different families.
Bernard Doherty who studies new religions said that Toowoomba had long been home to a “colorful assortment of sectarian Christian groupings and independent churches”.
He told BBC that the Saints appeared to be a small, independent church formed by a few families. However, little is known about this congregation.
