Fourteen members of an Australian religious group, known as the Saints, have been convicted of manslaughter in the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs. The girl died in 2022 after being denied insulin for nearly a week due to the group’s belief that God would heal her. The court’s decision was announced on January 29, 2025, in Toowoomba, Queensland.
- Fourteen members convicted of manslaughter.
- Eight-year-old girl denied insulin for a week.
- Group believed in divine healing over medical care.
- Parents expressed regret for their decisions.
- Trial highlighted strict religious beliefs of the Saints.
- Sentencing for defendants expected next month.
Elizabeth Struhs, who suffered from type 1 diabetes, died from diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition caused by insufficient insulin. The court heard that her father, Jason Struhs, and the group’s leader, Brendan Stevens, had previously supported medical treatment for her but changed their stance after joining the Saints. The group, consisting of around two dozen members from three families, opposed mainstream medical care, believing that faith in God would suffice for healing.
During the trial, which began in July 2024, prosecutors presented evidence from 60 witnesses, illustrating the severe suffering Elizabeth endured in her final days. She was described as needing assistance with basic functions and experiencing extreme lethargy and vomiting. Despite the group’s prayers and attempts to heal her spiritually, no medical help was sought, and authorities were only notified of her death 36 hours later.
The court ruled that while the defendants did not intend to kill Elizabeth, their collective decision to withhold insulin constituted manslaughter. Justice Martin Burns emphasized that their actions, driven by a singular belief in divine healing, directly resulted in her death. The group is scheduled for sentencing next month, and the case has raised concerns about the intersection of religious beliefs and medical care.
The conviction of the Saints members serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of extreme religious beliefs when they conflict with medical needs. Elizabeth’s tragic death underscores the necessity for vigilance in protecting vulnerable individuals, especially children, from harm due to such ideologies.
