Members of an Australian spiritual group have gone on trial accused of killing an eight-year-old diabetic woman by denying her medical care and providing prayer as an alternative.
Elizabeth Struhs was discovered lifeless at a house in Toowoomba – about 125km (78 mi) west of Brisbane – in January 2022, after she had allegedly gone with out insulin for a number of days.
Prosecutors say the sect shunned using drugs and trusted God to “heal” the kid – “excessive beliefs” which had already virtually ended Elizabeth’s life in comparable circumstances three years earlier than.
The woman’s dad and mom are among the many 14 defendants, all of whom have refused legal professionals.
They’ve additionally all opted to enter no pleas on the costs. Formally, the court docket considers {that a} plea of not responsible.
Two males – Elizabeth’s father Jason Struhs, 52, and the spiritual group’s chief Brendan Stevens, 62 – have been charged with homicide, with prosecutors saying they knew the group’s actions would seemingly kill Elizabeth.
The woman’s mom, Kerrie Struhs, 49, brother Zachary Struhs, 21, and ten others – aged 22 to 67 – are accused of manslaughter.
Because the trial started on the Queensland Supreme Court docket on Wednesday, the group filed in one after the other, clad in jail garments, taking their allotted positions in a courtroom particularly modified to suit all of them.
As a result of complexity and notoriety of the case, the trial is being heard by a decide solely – no jury – and is predicted to final for round three months.
When opening her case, prosecutor Caroline Marco mentioned Elizabeth had been an “clever, religious baby”.
“However [she was] too younger to grasp the dire penalties of her dad and mom’ choice… which she in the end paid for along with her personal life.”
Ms Marco alleged that in early January 2022, each dad and mom made the choice to first cut back the quantity of insulin given to their daughter, after which withdraw it fully.
Members of the sect then gathered on the dwelling to wish, she mentioned, and it was “seen to all who noticed her” that Elizabeth’s well being was at risk. However there was “no try” to get a health care provider.
She later died after having “suffered for days” , mentioned the prosecutor.
The court docket heard Mrs Struhs had solely been out of jail for a number of weeks, after being convicted of failing to supply insulin to her daughter on one other event in 2019.
That point, the woman spent a month in hospital after medical remedy was finally sought by her father.
Jason Struhs beforehand had not agreed with the group’s beliefs, the decide was advised, however had been baptised whereas his spouse was in jail.
“He knew if he didn’t change he would lose his household and spouse so pushed apart convictions of religion he as soon as held, and joined them,” Ms Marco mentioned.
Over the course of the trial, the court docket would hear from 60 witnesses together with one of many Struhs’ daughters, who’s estranged from the household, Ms Marco mentioned.
The proof, she added, would paint an image of a small and “insular” spiritual group which centred round Brendan Stevens.
Prosecutors will proceed laying out their arguments on Thursday, after which the defendants may also have the chance to deal with the court docket.
Earlier than the trial started, Justice Martin Burn mentioned harassed that he was obliged to supply enough data to make sure they received a good trial, however couldn’t present them with authorized recommendation.
