[Fourteen members of a small religious sect in Australia have been found guilty of the manslaughter of an 8-year-old girl, who died after they withheld insulin needed to treat her diabetes because of their unwavering belief that God would heal her.
Elizabeth Struhs was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes in 2019, but died on January 7, 2022, of diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication caused by a lack of insulin and medical treatment for the condition.
The group, which did not ascribe to any religious denomination, believed in the healing power of God and rejected conventional medicine, which some members described as “witchcraft.” They spent most of their time in prayer, singing, and chanting, and did not seek medical help for Elizabeth as she lay dying.
The court heard that the group’s spiritual leader, Brendan Stevens, and Elizabeth’s father, Jason Struhs, were convinced that God would heal her and did not need medical treatment. They believed that prayer and song could raise the dead, and even after Elizabeth stopped breathing, they continued to pray for her to be raised from the dead.
The group’s beliefs were so strong that they did not even use a glucometer to monitor Elizabeth’s blood sugar levels, and they praised “miraculous” developments when her glucose levels became normal for a short period.
The court heard that the group was almost completely confined to three families, who met three days a week, and that they had no medical training or knowledge of how to treat Elizabeth’s condition.
Justice Martin Burns, who delivered the verdict, said that Elizabeth’s death was “inevitable” after the group failed to administer insulin or seek medical help as she lay dying over six days. He said that, until her death, Elizabeth was a “vibrant, happy child” who was “lovingly cared for… and adored” by all members of the church, including the accused.
The 14 accused were found guilty on Wednesday, and will be sentenced on February 11. Elizabeth’s older sister, Jayde Struhs, spoke outside court and expressed her relief that those responsible for her sister’s death had been found guilty.
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