Queensland Sect Found Guilty in Child Manslaughter

Fourteen members of a fringe religious sect in Queensland, Australia, known as 'the Saints,' have been found guilty of manslaughter in the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs, who was denied insulin for her type 1 diabetes. The child died of diabetic ketoacidosis after her father, Jason Struhs, and the sect leader, Brendan Stevens, withheld her insulin due to their belief in divine healing, a core tenet of their faith. The court found that while the parents and sect members had a duty of care, they instead prayed and sang, believing God would heal her, and delayed calling medical help for 36 hours after her death. The judge ruled out murder charges for Jason Struhs and Stevens, citing their belief that Elizabeth would be healed by divine intervention. The case has drawn significant attention to the impact of religious beliefs on health decisions, with sentencing scheduled for February 11, 2025.