Members of a church group are facing sentencing after being found guilty of manslaughter in the case of eight-year-old Elizabeth Rose Struhs, who died on 7 January 2022, from complications of untreated type-1 diabetes due to her prescribed insulin being withheld for six days. Elizabeth’s father, Jason Struhs, her mother, Kerrie, and her brother Zachary were among 14 defendants convicted, all part of a religious sect known as “The Saints,” which rejected modern medicine.
The group, led by 63-year-old Brendan Luke Stevens, believed that health professionals were to be avoided, viewing their practices as “witchcraft.” Crown prosecutor Caroline Marco noted that there was no evidence of any psychiatric issues among the defendants during the commission of their crimes.
As pre-sentence considerations unfold, Justice Martin Burns suggested that the defendants could participate in psychiatric interviews to inform sentencing, though they faced the option of expediting the process if they declined. The group appeared in court, separated by gender and participating via video link from different prisons. The next court date is set for 14 February, with the possibility of sentencing being expedited to 13 February if the defendants opt out of the pre-sentence reports.