Police have arrested 12 members of a Queensland religious group and are set to charge them with murder over the death of an eight-year-old girl earlier this year.
The girl died at a Toowoomba home in January after allegedly being taken off her medication for type 1 diabetes before being denied medical help for six days.
Police will allege she died on January 7 but authorities weren’t contacted until the following day.
It’s further alleged the group sang songs and prayed over her body before authorities were notified.
The girl’s parents have already been charged murder, torture and fail to comply with necessities of life.
Officers today raided a property at Harristown in Toowoomba, arresting 12 people aged between 19 and 64.
It’s alleged the 12 people were present during the time of the girl’s death.
Regional Crime Coordinator Detective Acting Superintendent Garry Watts said the investigation was an unprecedented example of alleged murder of a child in Queensland.
“It will be alleged that 14 people in total made the choice to deny this young girl her right to medical care,” Detective Acting Superintendent Watts said.
“The arrests are the result of a six-month investigation, in which all officers involved were dedicated to ensuring those alleged to be responsible for her death, are brought before the court.”
Detectives expect to charge them all with murder later today.
More to come.
