Elizabeth Struhs murder: Parents accused over daughters death front Toowoomba court

The parents charged with the murder and torture of their eight-year-old daughter were urged again to get legal advice when they appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

A Toowoomba couple charged with murder and torture arising from the death of their eight-year-old daughter have appeared again before the city’s Magistrates Court.

Jason Richard Struhs, 50, and Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, 46, made separate appearances before the court on Thursday via video link from the respective prisons at which they have been held since their arrests.

They are each charged with murder, torture and failing to provide the necessities of life arising from the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Rose Struhs who police claim died some time on either January 7 or 8 at the family home in Rangeville.

Police claim Elizabeth was deprived of medication she needed.

Police and paramedics were alerted to the eight-year-old’s death on the afternoon of January 8 at the family home where the Struhs family and members of their church had gathered to pray for Elizabeth’s recovery.

Police claim Mr and Mrs Struhs opted for prayer over medical treatment and that Elizabeth Rose died as a result.

Neither Jason Struhs or Elizabeth Struhs have been required to enter any pleas to the charges and both continue to legally represent themselves despite Magistrate Kay Phillipson on Thursday urging both obtain legal representation.

Ms Phillipson explained there was a lot of police material to go through and urged them to get legal advice.

Police prosecutor Bettina Trenear told the court the police brief of evidence had been compiled onto a USB, however, it had since been discovered that the prisons didn’t accept USB devices and so the material had to be transferred to a disc.

Unfortunately, some material could be included on the disc and the arresting officer was liaising with the prisons to work out a way of providing the information, she said.

Ms Trenear said some statements from doctors and school teachers were also outstanding.

Magistrate Phillipson therefore remanded Mr and Mrs Struhs in custody and adjourned their respective cases for mention back in the same court on June 30.

Originally published as Elizabeth Struhs murder: Parents accused over daughters death front Toowoomba court