The parents of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs from Australia have been sentenced to 14 years each in prison for manslaughter following their daughter's death from diabetic ketoacidosis. The Struhs family, members of a religious sect called The Saints, rejected medical treatment in favor of their belief in divine healing. Elizabeth, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2019, required daily insulin injections to survive. However, her parents withheld this treatment for nearly a week, resulting in a painful and preventable death at their home near Brisbane in January 2022.
Last month, Justice Martin Burns ruled against 14 sect members involved in the case, including the child's father, Jason Struhs, and mother, Elizabeth Struhs. Both parents and sect leader Brendan Stevens received harsh penalties, with Stevens jailed for 13 years for his manipulative influence. Other members were sentenced from six to nine years, despite all individuals maintaining their innocence during the trial.
Testimonies revealed the anguish endured by Elizabeth in her final days, as she suffered from extreme fatigue and loss of consciousness, while her family engaged in prayer rather than seeking medical assistance. Prosecutors presented a compelling case, including accounts from 60 witnesses who portrayed Elizabeth as an intelligent child who deserved better care. The increasingly dire situation went unreported to medical professionals until 36 hours post-mortem.
Jayde Struhs, Elizabeth's sister, testified against their parents's defense of their actions, which Stevens argued were rooted in faith and religious freedom. The sect, comprised of roughly two dozen members from three families, holds stringent beliefs, including opposition to mainstream healthcare. Following a personal revelation, Jayde distanced herself from the sect, sharing insights into its rigid doctrines and estranged family dynamics.
Last month, Justice Martin Burns ruled against 14 sect members involved in the case, including the child's father, Jason Struhs, and mother, Elizabeth Struhs. Both parents and sect leader Brendan Stevens received harsh penalties, with Stevens jailed for 13 years for his manipulative influence. Other members were sentenced from six to nine years, despite all individuals maintaining their innocence during the trial.
Testimonies revealed the anguish endured by Elizabeth in her final days, as she suffered from extreme fatigue and loss of consciousness, while her family engaged in prayer rather than seeking medical assistance. Prosecutors presented a compelling case, including accounts from 60 witnesses who portrayed Elizabeth as an intelligent child who deserved better care. The increasingly dire situation went unreported to medical professionals until 36 hours post-mortem.
Jayde Struhs, Elizabeth's sister, testified against their parents's defense of their actions, which Stevens argued were rooted in faith and religious freedom. The sect, comprised of roughly two dozen members from three families, holds stringent beliefs, including opposition to mainstream healthcare. Following a personal revelation, Jayde distanced herself from the sect, sharing insights into its rigid doctrines and estranged family dynamics.
