Arabic version: تحقيق قضائي في كوينزلاند يبحث وفاة إليزابيث ستروهس

According to ABC News, a Queensland coroner has begun an inquest into whether state authorities could have better protected eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs before her death in 2022. Elizabeth died of diabetic ketoacidosis after her father stopped her insulin injections in January that year.

The Brisbane hearing is examining the Struhs family’s contact with multiple government departments before Elizabeth’s death. Coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard welcomed Elizabeth’s sister, Jayde Struhs, who was estranged from the family at the time, and said the inquest offered an opportunity to consider whether Elizabeth could have been better protected.

Thirty witnesses are scheduled to give evidence over two weeks, including representatives from the Department of Child Safety, Queensland Corrective Services, Queensland Health, Education Queensland and Queensland Police. All but one person have had their identities legally suppressed by the coroner.

The inquest heard that a 2013 report raised concerns about Kerrie Struhs’ involvement in a controlling religion, as well as the children’s isolation and restriction. A Child Safety witness said the report was recorded as a lower-level Child Concern Report and did not meet the threshold for a Child Safety Notification because there was no suspicion a child had been harmed or was at risk of harm.

Hospital staff also gave evidence about strong concerns in 2019, when Elizabeth was critically unwell and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. One staff member said insulin was essential to life and that Kerrie Struhs said Elizabeth would be healed and God would take care of her. The hearing was told Child Safety later allowed Elizabeth to be discharged into her parents’ care after determining her father would provide adequate treatment. The inquest continues.