A “dangerous, highly manipulative” Queensland non secular sect chief has been sentenced to 13 years behind bars for the demise of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs whereas her mother and father have been handed jail phrases of greater than 14 years every.
They’re amongst 14 members of Toowoomba-based non secular sect the Saints sentenced to jail within the Queensland supreme courtroom on Wednesday after they had been discovered responsible of manslaughter over Elizabeth’s January 2022 demise by diabetic ketoacidosis.
The religion group, which was likened to a cult in courtroom, doesn’t imagine in drugs – which some members have described as “witchcraft”. As a substitute of administering insulin to Elizabeth, who had kind 1 diabetes, they prayed and sang for her miraculous therapeutic as she lay dying over a four-day interval at a home in Rangeville, Toowoomba.
The sect’s chief, Brendan Stevens, was sentenced to 13 years in jail, and should spend at the very least 80% of 13 years behind bars earlier than making use of for parole.
“You are a dangerous, highly manipulative individual and the authorities would be wise to consider that on your release from prison,” Justice Martin Burns instructed Stevens.
Elizabeth’s father, Jason Struhs, was sentenced to 14-and-a-half years in jail, with a minimal of 80% to be served behind bars.
Each Stevens and Jason Struhs had been discovered not responsible of homicide by reckless indifference after final 12 months’s judge-only trial.
Addressing Jason Struhs, Burns mentioned: “You put your own personal beliefs ahead of your duty and then staked the life of your eight-year-old child on it.”
Elizabeth’s mom, Kerrie Struhs, was sentenced to “slightly in excess” of 15 years in jail as a result of she was on parole on the time of the offence. She should serve 80% of the sentence earlier than turning into eligible for parole.
Elizabeth’s brother, Zachary Struhs, was sentenced to 6 years in jail. He will likely be eligible for parole after three years, and may very well be launched later this 12 months primarily based on time served.
Loretta Stevens, spouse of sect chief Brendan Stevens, was sentenced to 9 years in jail, and might apply for parole after four-and-a-half years. The remaining sect members all acquired sentences of between six and 7 years in jail.
The group of 14 confirmed no emotion and didn’t say something whereas Burns was delivering his remarks forward of sentencing.
“You allowed your faith to blind you to her real plight,” Burns mentioned to them.
“Elizabeth suffered a slow and painful death and you are all in one way or another responsible.”
As he ended his sentencing remarks about every prisoner, Burns exclaimed “take [them] down”, ordering them to be taken into detention.
A number of prisoners, beginning with Kerrie Struhs, waved goodbye to 1 one other and smiled as they had been taken away. None confirmed any expression or made any comment at their sentence.
Exterior courtroom Kerrie and Jason’s estranged daughter, Jayde Struhs – who left the household after they refused to simply accept her sexuality when she got here out as lesbian – mentioned justice had been completed.
“The coercion and the manipulation Brendan used to control not only his own family but mine is the most unforgivable and disgusting abuse of people’s vulnerability. As we move on from this chapter in our lives, we’ll begin to heal,” she mentioned.
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Burns mentioned the “deliberate conduct” of the sect members, if repeated, would pose a critical danger to the lifetime of one other youngster.
He mentioned the Saints had tried to recruit different members each whereas they had been behind bars and previous to their detention, and nonetheless don’t imagine their actions had been fallacious.
“Your prospects of rehabilitation are bleak, to say the least,” Burns mentioned to them.
“It is my opinion that you should have nothing at all to do with the care or custody of any child, and nor should you ever have direct or indirect contact with the child unless any such contact is strictly supervised.”
Mom Kerrie and father Jason Struhs had beforehand been convicted of failing to offer the requirements of life for Elizabeth after an incident in 2019.
In that 12 months, Elizabeth, who had but to be recognized with kind 1 diabetes, grew to become significantly ailing over a interval of about six days. When she was ultimately taken to hospital by her father she was described in courtroom as on the verge of demise, and fell right into a coma.
Kerrie was sentenced to serve 18 months in jail, however served solely 5. Jason was given a six-month suspended sentence, decreased partly as a result of he testified in opposition to his spouse.
Jason then spent years serving to deal with Elizabeth’s incurable sickness earlier than being satisfied to convert to the Saints religion, after which to finish using insulin to deal with his daughter’s diabetes, in 2021.
The 14 sect members weren’t represented by counsel through the trial or sentencing.
They refused to defend themselves in opposition to their prices, which they described as “religious persecution”.
Additionally they refused to enter pleas. Burns ordered that pleas of not responsible be entered on their behalf, pursuant to Queensland legislation.
The 14 responsible sect members are: Jason Struhs, 53, Brendan Stevens, 63, Kerrie Struhs, 49, Zachary Struhs, 22, Loretta Mary Stevens, 67, Andrea Louise Stevens, 34, Acacia Naree Stevens, 31, Camellia Claire Stevens, 28, Therese Maria Stevens, 37, Keita Courtney Martin, 22, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 34, Samantha Emily Crouch, 26, Sebastian James Stevens, 23, and Alexander Francis Stevens, 26.
