Australian sect members guilty of causing girl's death

Fourteen members of an Australian spiritual radical person been convicted of the manslaughter of an eight-year-old diabetic miss who was denied insulin for astir a week.

Elizabeth Struhs died astatine location successful 2022, having suffered from diabetic ketoacidosis, which causes fatally precocious humor sugar.

The tribunal heard that Elizabeth's attraction was withheld due to the fact that the group, known arsenic the Saints, opposed aesculapian care, believing God would heal her.

Her begetter Jason and the group's person Brendan Stevens were connected proceedings for execution but were convicted of the lesser complaint of manslaughter. Twelve different members, including Elizabeth's parent and brother, were besides convicted of manslaughter. All had pleaded not guilty.

The judge-alone proceedings lasted respective months and has received planetary attraction since it began successful July 2024.

Prosecutors called immoderate 60 witnesses erstwhile gathering their case, coating a representation of an "intelligent" kid who suffered greatly successful her last days.

"She was described arsenic speaking little, needing assistance going to the toilet, and being incontinent," authoritative Caroline Marco said of the lead-up to Elizabeth's death, adding that the miss would person endured vomiting, utmost lethargy, and a nonaccomplishment of consciousness.

The congregation, meanwhile, prayed and sung for Elizabeth, whose wellness deteriorated arsenic she laic connected a mattress connected the level of her location successful Toowoomba, astir 125km (78 miles) westbound of Brisbane.

However, nary effort was made to telephone a doctor, and authorities were not notified until 36 hours aft her death, arsenic the radical believed she could beryllium brought backmost to life, the tribunal heard.

The 14 defendants, aged betwixt 22 and 67, represented themselves astatine trial, having each refused ineligible representation.