‘She’s at peace and so am I’: why members of Australian religious sect the Saints deliberately denied Elizabeth Struhs lifesaving insulin
Guardian6 days
Australia: 14 Religious Sect Members Found Guilty in Girl's Death
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Above: Northern Territory, Australia Supreme Court Building. Image copyright: DAVID GRAY/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Fourteen members of an Australian religious sect called the Saints were found guilty of manslaughter for the death of Elizabeth Struhs, an eight-year-old girl who died after being denied insulin for her Type 1 diabetes for almost a week in January 2022 at her home in Toowoomba, Queensland.
The group, including Elizabeth's parents Jason and Kerrie Struhs, and religious leader Brendan Stevens, allegedly withheld medical treatment for religious reasons, instead gathering around her bed to pray and sing as her condition deteriorated over six days.
Elizabeth's father Jason Struhs and group leader Brendan Stevens were initially charged with murder but were convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter, because the court could not prove beyond reasonable doubt that they knew their actions would likely result in death.
The Spin
Narrative A
The legal system failed to protect Elizabeth Struhs from an unsafe home environment despite previous warning signs, including a 2019 incident where she was hospitalized in a diabetic coma, resulting in charges against both parents — yet she remained in their care. The state is partially to blame for this terrible tragedy, in which a young girl tragically died due to the religious zeal of her parents and community.
Narrative B
This is a complex case. The actions of the Saints should be viewed within their religious context, as the group has deep-seated beliefs in divine healing power. This tragic case will likely open dialogues about the role of religious beliefs and their boundaries within the constructs of society.
