Elizabeth Rose Struhs death trial: Prosecution continues opening statement

The prosecution has wrapped up a marathon opening statement at the landmark trial of 14 people over the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs.

Chilling text messages between accused killers and disturbing photos of a dying young girl in her final hours were shown during the second day of a mammoth murder-manslaughter trial.

Eight-year-old Elizabeth Rose Struhs died in her family’s Toowoomba home in January 2022 after her parents, Jason and Kerrie Struhs, allegedly took her off lifesaving insulin used to treat her diabetes, in an attempt to “prove their faith” in God’s healing powers.

The Supreme Court trial of Mr and Mrs Struhs and the other 12 members of the hard line religious group called The Saints over Elizabeth’s death continued on Thursday.

Crown prosecutor Caroline Marco said Elizabeth is believed to have died either on the night of Thursday, January 6 or in the early morning on Friday, January 7, 2022. The court was shown photos taken by one of the accused on January 6.

Elizabeth Rose Struhs died in January 2022.

Elizabeth was unconscious on a mattress on the living room floor surrounded by congregation members.

In a later police interview, Mr Struhs acknowledged that his daughter was critically ill at that point.

“But he (Mr Struhs) told police in his statement (after Elizabeth’s death) that there was no suggestion (on January 6) from anyone to contact an ambulance as there was no need,” Ms Marco told the court on Thursday.

“He turned his faith towards God, in his words: ‘Nothing this time is going to make me go to the hospital like last time, that would destroy what I believe in’.”

Around 5.30am on January 7, Mr Struhs woke to Sebastian Stevens, Acacia Stevens, and Camellia Stevens – who had stayed overnight with Elizabeth – “praying happily and loudly”.

Ms Marco said Mr Struhs thought it was a celebration that his daughter had been healed, but she was actually already dead.

A mammoth trial of 14 members of a religious circle who are accused of killing an eight-year-old girl Elizabeth Struhs, by withholding her insulin medication has entered day two. NewsWire

Nevertheless, word quickly spread among the congregation members.

The court was told Alexander Stevens sent a message to Samantha Schoenfisch that morning reading: “Good morning, please pray as much as you can and get around to the Struhs as soon as you can. Elizabeth does not appear to be breathing apparently, but we will see a victory very soon. God can do anything.”

Mr Struhs did not call triple-zero until around 5am the next day.

His daughter had been dead for at least 36 hours.

Mr Struhs’ son, Zachary, went to his father’s workplace on January 12 and spoke to one of his father’s colleagues, who told him that their names were in media articles, the court heard.

“That’s great news because now other people will be shocked when Elizabeth does come back (to life),” Zachary Struhs allegedly replied.

The court heard the fanatical group rejected the use of “man” medicine and spoke in tongues, with the congregation “excited” at the prospect of Elizabeth being taken off insulin.

Samantha Schoenfisch, who had only recently joined The Saints with her husband Lachlan, told a friend in November 2021 about her belief in God’s healing power.

The court heard that Samantha told her friend that she had thrown out all their medicines and creams and Lachlan had stopped wearing glasses.

Elizabeth Rose Struhs

Ms Marco directly attacked the alleged core belief of The Saints in court on Thursday.

“Elizabeth Struhs’ death was completely preventable,” she said.

“She died after suffering a long, drawn-out illness.

“That happened because both of her parents, who owed not only a legal duty but also a moral one to preserve her life, failed her.

“Elizabeth Struhs will not rise again to join her family and friends in this physical existence.”

Ms Marco said each of the defendants had played a significant part in bringing about the end of Elizabeth’s life.

“The leader of their congregation, ‘the preacher’ and ‘messenger from God’ – Brendan Stevens – also knew that (Elizabeth’s) father knew that she would probably die, and/or knew that himself, and still they let it happen,” she said.

Ms Marco said evidence from Kerrie Struhs’ first trial for failing to provide the necessities of life to her daughter in 2019 showed she was allegedly criminally negligent in not giving the child insulin in the lead-up to her death in January 2022.

Mrs Struhs was ultimately found guilty and served five months in jail in 2021.

Just weeks after she was released from prison, Kerrie Struhs and her husband Jason Struhs allegedly stopped Elizabeth’s diabetes medication on January 3, 2022.

An artist’s impression of some of the defendants in court. Illustration: NCA NewsWire

The trial was told that Jason Struhs was for years staunchly opposed to the beliefs of the religious group, but finally capitulated and joined the group at a baptism by Brendan Stevens in August 2021, while his wife was in jail.

Ms Marco said Mr Struhs was “manipulated” by his wife and the other congregation members.

Jason Struhs and Brendan Stevens are charged with murder by reckless indifference, the first time such a case has been tried on that basis in Queensland.

Kerrie Struhs, her son Zachary Struhs, and the 10 other members of the congregation are charged with manslaughter.

All are representing themselves and had pleas of not guilty entered on their behalf.

Justice Martin Burns adjourned the trial until Friday, asking the defendants to inform him in the morning if they wished to make their own opening statements.