Fourteen church group members appeared in Brisbane’s Supreme Court, facing sentencing for their role in the tragic death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs. The group allegedly withheld critical insulin medication for Elizabeth, who suffered from type-1 diabetes, leading to her slow decline and eventual death. During the proceedings, it was revealed that the defendants believed they were acting in accordance with their religious convictions, rejecting modern medicine as “witchcraft.”
Elizabeth’s sister, Jayde, stated in her victim impact statement that their family had been misled into extreme beliefs, resulting in the loss of an innocent child. She expressed frustration towards their father, Jason Struhs, and the church leaders, who she accused of wanting to exert control over the family.
Prosecutor Caroline Marco highlighted that the group could have sought medical help when Elizabeth’s condition worsened but chose to ignore the signs. She argued that their unwavering faith blinded them to the reality of the situation. Sentencing recommendations included 15 years for Jason and Kerrie Struhs, and 12 years for Brendan Stevens, the alleged instigator. The court will reserve its sentencing decisions until later this month, with a broad range of terms suggested for the other defendants.