Elizabeth Struhs murder: Magistrate reserves decision on whether Toowoomba father accused of murdering daughter will stand trial

A magistrate has reserved her decision on whether a Toowoomba man, accused of murdering his eight-year-old daughter by withholding life saving medicine, will stand trial after the prosecution tendered their evidence in the case.

A Toowoomba father accused of opting to pray to God instead of giving his eight-year-old daughter lifesaving medication has faced a committal hearing on whether he will stand trial for her murder.

Sporting a short beard and wearing prison greens, Jason Richard Struhs appeared in person from the dock of Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday for the hearing.

Mr Struhs is facing charges of murder, torture and failure to provide the necessities of life with police alleging that he and a co-accused, his wife Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, withheld medication from their diabetic daughter Elizabeth Rose Struhs.

Jason Struhs.

Police and paramedics attended the family’s Rangeville home on the afternoon of January 8, 2022 with police alleging that the Struhs family and members of their ad hoc religious group gathered to pray for the girl’s recovery instead of providing medical treatment.

When asked, the 50-year-old told magistrate Clare Kelly he had a “vague idea” of the proceedings that were taking place, and it was explained to him that the prosecution was to tender their witnesses statements and exhibits for Ms Kelly to consider and determine if there was sufficient evidence for him to be committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court.

The court was told Mr Struhs was in possession of a digital copy of the brief of evidence, but he said he “didn’t intend” to view the material.

With Mr Struhs declining to make an application to cross-examine any witnesses, police prosecutor Sergeant Alister Windsor proceeded to read onto the record the statements of exhibits that made up their brief of evidence.

Elizabeth Rose Struhs

The documents tendered included witness statements from general duties police, police investigators and forensic officers.

Medical evidence tendered included Elizabeth’s diabetes action plan and records from Queensland Health and Toowoomba Hospital as well as an autopsy report and certificate.

Forensic images from the Struhs Rangeville family home were also tendered as well as property items from the house, as well as CCTV and dashcam footage obtained from neighbours and bodyworn camera footage from officers that attended the home.

The court was told police also retrieved data from Mr Struhs’ iPhone, and that police had retrieved telecommunication data.

Sergeant Windsor also revealed the brief of evidence contained screenshots of a GoFundMe established by Elizabeth’s older sister Jayde, as well as a variety of social media posts and messages.

Ms Kelly said that she would reserve her decision to consider the evidence, and adjourned the matter to October 11. Mr Struhs was remanded in custody to next appear by audio visual link on that date.

Originally published as Elizabeth Struhs murder: Magistrate reserves decision on whether Toowoomba father accused of murdering daughter will stand trial