A judge has sentenced 14 members of an obscure Australian religious group to prison following the “slow and painful” demise of an eight-year-old girl suffering from diabetes, who was denied life-saving insulin.
The parents of Elizabeth Rose Struhs, along with the leader and additional members of the Saints sect, were convicted of manslaughter last month in the Queensland Supreme Court in Brisbane.
This small, home-based congregation in Toowoomba, Queensland, adhered to a “core belief” in the healing powers of God, which resulted in a complete rejection of medical treatment, as determined by the court.
The girl succumbed to ketoacidosis—a serious diabetes-related complication—after her insulin medication was withheld for several days.
Her mother, Kerrie Struhs, and father, Jason Struhs, were each sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Both were found guilty of failing to provide the necessary care for their daughter.
“Elizabeth’s death was, and continues to be, profoundly troubling, particularly because it was so completely and easily preventable,” stated Mr. Burns.
The sect’s leader, Brendan Stevens, received a 13-year prison sentence.
“Your subsequent efforts to distance yourself from the repercussions of your actions are to be condemned,” Mr. Burns remarked.
“You are a dangerous, highly manipulative individual, and the authorities should keep this in mind upon your release.”
Other group members received sentences ranging from six to nine years.
All were convicted for actively encouraging the father to withhold insulin.
“Each of you engaged in a spiritual gamble with the life of a child—a child you claimed to love,” said Burns.
According to court documents, Jason Struhs told police that his daughter was “bouncing around, playing” in the beginning—yet over the following days, she began “slowly getting weaker and weaker.”
Both Jason Struhs and sect leader Stevens were found not guilty of murder, as it was not proven that they understood she would likely die, given their mindset at the time, the judge remarked.
None of the defendants sought legal counsel during the trial or entered pleas to the charges against them.
The judge entered not guilty pleas on their behalf.
