Church group in girl’s death trial claims ‘persecution’

The leader of a religious group accused of killing an eight-year-old girl by withholding her medication has claimed the trial was “religious persecution” and they acted reasonably under their faith.

All 14 defendants are representing themselves at the judge-only trial and Stevens told Justice Martin Burns on Friday that he wanted to make a defence opening statement to give the group’s “perspective”. He said the basis of the murder charges, that he and Jason Struhs had acted with reckless indifference to life, had not previously been used in Queensland and was a man-made law.

Struhs found instead that Elizabeth had stopped breathing and died during the night after suffering escalating symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis over the course of six days after he allegedly stopped giving her insulin.

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Church group in girl’s death trial claims ‘persecution’“This isn’t really a trial about murder of a child as it is religious persecution.”
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Leader of group charged over eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs death says case is 'religious persecution'The self-proclaimed leader of a religious group accused of causing the death of an eight-year-old girl has told a court that the case against them is 'religious persecution' and that the group doesn't care what judgement is delivered.
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