Elizabeth Rose Struhs, an 8-year-old Australian girl who died after six days without insulin injections for her type 1 diabetes, had her parents and members of their hardline religious sect convicted of manslaughter. The parents, Jason Struhs (53), Kerrie Elizabeth (49), and Zachary Alan Struhs (22), along with Brendan Luke Stevens, the leader of The Saints, were found guilty after withholding her medication, believing it would save her life.
The jury heard that the faith healing group, often criticized in Australia as a cult, withheld the medication “with purpose,” thinking God could heal her. During the trial, the father admitted he was not celebrating his joy over his daughter’s safe passage but felt peace for both her and himself.
Although initially charged with murder, both the father and Stevens were convicted of manslaughter due to the court’s finding that the prosecution failed to prove reckless indifference to life. Judge Martin Burns stated there was a “reasonable possibility” they didn’t fully grasp Elizabeth’s risk in their isolated environment.
The family members face remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on 11 February, potentially facing life in prison with encouragement to seek legal advice. Jayde Struths, Elizabeth’s older sister, expressed shock at the system’s failure to protect her brother and called for accountability.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/elizabeth-rose-struhss-parents-and-members-of-religious-sect-guilty-of-her-manslaughter-13298774