Trial of Australian Religious Sect Accused of Killing Diabetic Child Begins

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Members of an Australian religious group known as The Saints have gone on trial, accused of causing the death of an eight-year-old diabetic girl by denying her medical care. Elizabeth Struhs was found dead in January 2022 at a home in Toowoomba, approximately 125 kilometers west of Brisbane, after having been deprived of insulin for nearly a week.

 

Prosecutors allege that the sect members chose to pray for divine intervention rather than seeking medical help as Elizabeth's health rapidly deteriorated. This highly publicized and unusual case has seen all 14 defendants, including Elizabeth's parents, opting to represent themselves in court.

 

Jason Struhs, 52, Elizabeth’s father, and Brendan Stevens, 62, the leader of The Saints, have been charged with murder. Prosecutors claim they either encouraged or instructed the other group members to rely solely on prayer for Elizabeth's recovery. Kerrie Struhs, 49, Elizabeth's mother, along with her brother Zachary Struhs, 21, and ten other group members aged between 22 and 67, face manslaughter charges.

 

As the trial commenced at the Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday, the courtroom had been specially modified to accommodate the large number of defendants. The dock, typically used for defendants in a criminal trial, was too small to hold all 14 accused. Consequently, the men, clad in prison khakis, and the women, dressed in blue uniforms, were seated at two long tables.

 

The group has refused legal representation and has also declined to enter pleas on the charges. As a result, the court formally considers them to have entered pleas of not guilty. Given the complexity and high-profile nature of the case, it will be heard by a judge alone, without a jury, and is expected to last around three months.

 

Prosecutor Caroline Marco, in her opening statement, described Elizabeth as an "intelligent, spiritual child." Marco emphasized the tragic outcome of the parents' decision to withdraw insulin, stating, "[She was] too young to understand the dire consequences of her parents' decision to withdraw insulin for her... which she ultimately paid for with her own life."

 

The trial highlights the tensions between religious beliefs and medical ethics, raising critical questions about parental responsibility and the legal obligations to ensure the health and well-being of children. As proceedings continue, the case is expected to delve deeply into the actions and beliefs of The Saints, examining how their faith-based decisions led to such a tragic outcome.

 

Credit: BBC 2024-07-11

 

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[Purdey]

So when god didn't help did they stop believing in god? Or admit he was powerless to prevent her death?