Elizabeth Struhs case: Group rule out lawyers ahead of sentencing

The religious hardliners who killed a little girl taken off lifesaving insulin as a test of faith have ruled out obtaining lawyers ahead of sentencing, which could occur later this week.

Jason Struhs during an interview with police after the death of his daughter Elizabeth.

The religious hardliners who killed a little girl taken off lifesaving insulin as a test of faith have ruled out obtaining lawyers ahead of sentencing, which could occur later this week.

The 14 members of the extreme Christian sect known as the Saints were all found guilty of the manslaughter of Elizabeth Struhs last month following a nine-week trial where they self-represented.

The eight-year-old, who had type 1 diabetes, died at her Toowoomba home in November 2022 after her parents, Jason and Kerrie Struhs, who were members of the cult-like group, withdrew her insulin.

Her parents along with the other members of the Saints, who believed in God’s healing power over modern medicine, prayed and sang over her dead body in the hope that God would bring her back. Jason called paramedics some 36 hours after her death.

The Saints were scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday but Justice Martin Burns vacated the hearing to ensure they had considered submissions by the Crown whose officers worked late to serve the defendants on Friday evening.

Justice Burns told the Supreme Court that the prisoners, who appeared via video link, had indicated via email that they did not wish to obtain legal representation.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutors Caroline Marco said police had asked her to consider applying for offender reporting orders under child protection legislation which she was still weighing up.

Justice Burns said he knew little about the background of the defendants and suggested a pre-sentence report by Corrective Services might be beneficial but only if they were willing to partake.

Presentence reports are often arranged for defendants especially when there’s a psychiatric, psychological condition or vulnerability pertinent to the offender. The reports often see a reduction in the length of sentence.

“Given the dearth of information concerning each of you, I’m inclined to the view that a presentence report for each of you might be appropriate in this case, but it would be pointless … if you’re not prepared to co-operate,” Justice Burns said.

The Saints’ leader Brendan Stevens could be seen shaking his head when the reports were suggested.

The Crown said there was no evidence the defendants were suffering any psychiatric abnormality or mental condition before or after the killing of Elizabeth.

Justice Burns adjourned the case to Friday for review however the matter might be brought on for sentence.

Originally published as Elizabeth Struhs case: Group rule out lawyers ahead of sentencing