The Saints: Parents and 12 other members of religious sect convicted over death of diabetic girl
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Two bereaved parents and 12 fellow members of an Australian religious congregation accused of killing an 8-year-old girl by withholding her diabetes medication were found guilty on Wednesday 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.
Her father, Jason Richard Struhs, 53, and the leader of the family’s religious group called “The Saints,” Brendan Luke Stevens, 63, had been charged with the more serious crime of murder, but Queensland Supreme Court Justice Martin Burns found both guilty of her manslaughter.
Burns also found another 12 members of the congregation, including the victim’s mother, Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, 49, and the victim’s bother Zachary Alan Struhs, 22, guilty of manslaughter. No one charged escaped conviction.
All 14 were remanded in custody to appear in court for sentencing on Feb. 11. Each faces a potential maximum sentence of life in prison.
The victim’s adult sister, Jayde Struhs, told reporters outside court that she welcomed the verdicts.
“Although we had a good outcome today, I have to acknowledge the system failed to protect Elizabeth in the first place,” Jayde Struhs said.
“We are only here today because more wasn’t done sooner to protect her or remove her from a credibly unsafe situation in her own home,” she added.
In finding the father and religious leader not guilty of murder, Burns said the prosecution had failed to prove they had shown reckless indifference to life.
Content retrieved from: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/the-saints-australia-sect-cult-b2688232.html.
