Inquest examines failures before Elizabeth Struhs's death

A coronial inquest in Brisbane is examining whether system failures contributed to the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs, who died on 7 January 2022 after insulin for her type 1 diabetes was withheld.

The inquest, led by Coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard in the Brisbane Magistrates Court, is hearing evidence about the actions of authorities in the years and weeks before the girl's death. It is set to examine whether there were system failures that led to her death.

Elizabeth died of diabetic ketoacidosis after her father stopped providing insulin, according to evidence reported by The Guardian. Members of the religious group known as the "saints" did not believe in seeking medical treatment for illness. After her death, members sang and prayed for her resurrection.

The court has heard that Elizabeth had been hospitalised in 2019 for diabetic ketoacidosis after her parents delayed seeking medical help. Both parents were convicted of child neglect following that hospitalisation.

Much of the evidence has focused on what child safety workers, health staff, teachers, police and parole officers knew about the family's religious views. The inquest heard that her mother, Kerrie Struhs, repeatedly told police, healthcare workers, teachers, parole officers and child safety workers about her religious views and that she would do the same thing again. She believed God would heal her daughter.

Those views were discussed at a formal interagency case management meeting by the suspected child abuse and neglect team. Coroner Kirkegaard said authorities' lack of curiosity about Kerrie Struhs's beliefs was a missed opportunity to identify broader influences on the children. Child safety had assessed Kerrie Struhs's church group as a source of support for her.

Other evidence concerned monitoring of the family. A Queensland police officer told the inquest he assumed child safety workers would have monitored the child neglect case through the media, according to ABC News. Kerrie Struhs met with a probation officer less than a month before Elizabeth died. A child safety staff member told the inquiry she did not anticipate Elizabeth's father would convert to the religious sect.

All 14 adult members of the Saints were convicted of Elizabeth's manslaughter.

The coroner is considering adopting recommendations from Victoria's inquiry into cults and organised fringe groups. That inquiry recommended creating a new offence akin to coercive control to apply in the context of an organised group such as a cult. A senior Queensland police officer told the inquest that Victoria's findings would be relevant to Queensland but could not be automatically adopted without an assessment of Queensland law.