Girl returned to killer parents despite 'cult' warning A family's extreme religious beliefs against medical treatment were known to authorities years before their "cult" killed a little girl, a coroner has heard. AAP · Mar 12
Tension on the streets, the mushroom trial circus and a devastating terrorist attack – looking back on Australia’s turbulent 2025 There was no shortage of grim and disturbing moments in a fractious year. But also a prime ministerial wedding, a miraculous survival story – and Valerie the dachshund The Guardian - AU · Dec 29, 2025
Australia’s cults crisis: why more people are falling prey to insidious high-control groups Inquiry hears of boom in cult activity as coercive groups promise recruits ‘simple answers to complex problems’ The Guardian - AU · Oct 23, 2025
Faith-healing tragedy: child dies without insulin A vibrant and happy child, Elizabeth Struhs, eight, endured a slow and painful death after a church group encouraged her parents to deny her insulin. AAP · Feb 28, 2025
14 'Saints' Cult Members Sentenced For 8-Year-Old's 'Slow and Painful Death' After Leader Convinced Parents to Deny Daughter Insulin Fourteen members of an Australian cult were sentenced for the death of an 8-year-old girl after they denied her insulin at the urging of their leader. Latin Times · Feb 26, 2025
Morning Mail: Kean hits back at ‘bullying’ of climate body, Musk backlash grows, Eurovision pick revealed Climate Change chief pushes back at Coalition criticism; Creative Australia chiefs refuse to quit after grilling at Senate estimates The Guardian - AU · Feb 25, 2025
'Cult' members jailed for gambling with child's life The parents of an eight year old girl have been jailed over the child's "painful" death after a church group gambled with her life and withheld her insulin. AAP · Feb 25, 2025
Church members who killed girl 'wanted to play God' As they await their sentences for killing a girl, members of a church group have been told by her sister that God would eventually judge them for taking a life. AAP · Feb 13, 2025
Church group who killed girl asked to meet psychiatrist The wait for a 14-strong religious group to be sentenced for killing an eight-year-old girl after withholding her medication continues after a court review. AAP · Feb 11, 2025
Inquest after church group found guilty of killing girl A coroner will inquire into the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs after her medicine was withheld by religious group members who included her parents. AAP · Jan 31, 2025
'Cult' led family from baptism joy to girl's slow death A father stood between his wife's belief in shunning medicine and his daughter's need for life-saving insulin before his resolve crumbled amid a family crisis. AAP · Jan 31, 2025
We are seeing anti-medical, anti-science narratives everywhere – how can doctors like me respond? Medical practitioners are no longer trusted instinctively, with sometimes devastating consequences. How do we engage with people who mistrust us? The Guardian - AU · Jan 30, 2025
Religious sect found guilty of manslaughter after prayer fails to heal diabetic girl Elizabeth Struhs was denied critical insulin by members of The Saints The Independent UK · Jan 29, 2025
Afternoon Update: religious sect members guilty of killing girl; economists tip rate cut; and Melania’s official portrait Fourteen members of Toowoomba group the Saints found guilty of killing Elizabeth Struhs by withholding her insulin The Guardian - UK · Jan 29, 2025
The Guardian - AU · Jan 28, 2025 BoM forecasts weekend heatwaves – as it happened This blog is now closed
AAP · Aug 23, 2024 Prosecution rests in church trial over child's death After weeks of hearings, prosecutors in the trial of 14 church group members accused of killing a girl by withholding insulin have finished presenting evidence.
AAP · Jul 26, 2024 'No regrets' over girl's death: accused dad to police A body-worn camera has captured an exchange between police officers and a man accused of murdering his eight-year-old daughter by withholding her medication.
AAP · Jul 25, 2024 Accused killer mum 'praying' when girl's breath stopped A manslaughter-accused mother previously jailed for failing to seek treatment for her daughter said it was a "miracle" she had survived a near-fatal coma.
AAP · Jul 22, 2024 Workmate says murder accused 'broken' by family dispute A murder accused's workmate thought his friend was "torn" between his daughter's health and adopting his family's religious ban on medicine, a judge heard.
The Guardian - AU · Jul 19, 2024 ‘No turning back’: how Elizabeth Struhs’ father went from sceptic to speaking in tongues and alleged murder Jason Struhs, his wife Kerrie, and 12 other members of Toowoomba religious sect the ‘Saints’ are on trial over the eight-year-old girl’s death
AAP · Jul 19, 2024 Girl 'miraculously healed' of diabetes before death A church group member charged over an eight-year-old girl's death said the child had earlier been miraculously healed of her diabetes, a court has been told.
AAP · Jul 18, 2024 Boss tells murder trial of hard worker's 'brainwashing' A bakery boss says he feared a valued employee and friend had been "brainwashed" by a fringe Christian group before the man allegedly murdered his own daughter.
AAP · Jul 17, 2024 Mother on trial for girl's death acted on Bible 'facts' A woman accused of killing her daughter by withholding medication told her prior trial for near-fatal child neglect the Bible's "facts" showed God could heal.
The Guardian - AU · Jul 17, 2024 Elizabeth Struhs death: murder accused father agreed to testify against wife, trial hears Jason Struhs said he had been ‘furious’ with his wife after discovering how seriously ill Elizabeth had become, Queensland court hears
AAP · Jul 16, 2024 Murder accused dad told girl needed insulin 'for life' A man accused of murdering his daughter by withholding her insulin was repeatedly told she would die without the medication, a judge has heard.