The parents of a diabetic girl who died just shy of her ninth birthday, along with a dozen members of their religious sect, were found guilty of manslaughter by an Australian court for withholding lifesaving medication. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday.
Jason Struhs, the girl's father, and sect leader Brendan Stevens had faced murder charges. However, after a lengthy trial, the judge determined there was insufficient evidence to prove that they were aware that discontinuing the insulin essential for the girl's Type 1 diabetes would likely lead to her death.
Elizabeth Rose Struhs passed away at her family’s home on January 7, 2022, four days after her father ceased administering her insulin. As her condition deteriorated, members of the sect gathered around her, praying and singing instead of seeking medical assistance, as noted in the court's findings.
During the trial, Mr. Stevens claimed the case was an act of religious persecution. The church, based in Toowoomba, Queensland, held a belief in divine healing that contradicted the use of medical care.
All 14 defendants, some of whom viewed medicine as witchcraft, chose to represent themselves without legal counsel.
Mr. Struhs, a baker and father of seven other children, expressed his belief that his daughter could be resurrected by God. He stated, “To all of you, it looks like God has failed. But I know Elizabeth is only sleeping and I will see her again.”
Previously, Mr. and Mrs. Struhs faced charges for neglecting Elizabeth’s medical needs after a 2019 hospitalization. Mrs. Struhs received an 18-month prison sentence, while Mr. Struhs received a suspended sentence after testifying against her.
In 2021, Mr. Struhs, who had initially been skeptical of the church, became a member and was influenced by other church members, including the couple’s then 19-year-old son, to stop administering insulin to Elizabeth.
Even after the girl had stopped breathing, church members continued to pray and sing for nearly 36 hours before Mr. Struhs eventually contacted authorities. He expressed to police that one cannot simultaneously have faith in God and trust in man.
Justice Martin Burns, in his ruling, noted that Mr. Struhs might have been so deeply influenced by the church’s beliefs that he did not fully recognize the gravity of the situation, believing instead that God would intervene.
Elizabeth was remembered by her oldest sister as a vibrant girl who enjoyed pranks. The sister had distanced herself from the family years before Elizabeth's death due to disagreements over her sexual orientation.