‘Idolatry, a minor inconvenience’: Astonishing email after young diabetic girl’s death revealed
The astonishing email sent by a trained engineer to his uncle a month after a young girl was allegedly killed by her faith-healing church group has been revealed.
An engineer charged with a diabetic girl’s manslaughter sent an astonishing email after the child’s death accusing his uncle of “idolatry” for pursuing a university degree.
Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch’s message to his uncle, Murray, was read to the court on the 13th day of a trial into the death of Elizabeth Struhs, 8, in early 2022.
In it, he reveals police have confiscated the pair’s phones before going on a wild tangent over his relative’s beliefs.
Mr Schoenfisch, 34 and his wife Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, 26, are among 14 members of the faith-healing group known as The Saints.
Both of them are charged with the child’s manslaughter.
The long-winded email read to the court on Friday is one of hundreds of messages being relied on by the Crown as part of their case against the group.
Elizabeth’s parents - Jason Richard Struhs, 52, and Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, 49 - are charged with their daughter’s murder and manslaughter respectively.
Brendan Luke Stevens, 62, who is the leader of The Saints, is also charged with murder.
The other 11 charged with manslaughter include Lachlan and Samantha Schoenfisch, Elizabeth’s elder brother Zachary Alan Struhs, 21, Loretta Mary Stevens, 67, Acacia Naree Stevens, 31, Therese Maria Stevens, 37, Sebastian James Stevens, 23, Andrea Louise Stevens, 34, Camellia Claire Stevens, 28, Alexander Francis Stevens, 26, and Keita Courtney Martin, 22.
It is alleged the girl’s insulin was withheld from January 3, 2022 in line with their group’s hard line beliefs in the healing power of God.
Elizabeth’s condition worsened until she died between January 6-7 from diabetic ketoacidosis.
The court was told in the month after the girl died, Murray emailed his cousin offering help to the young Schoenfisches and saying he misses talking to Lachlan.
In a reply email on February 16, 2022, Lachlan - a trained engineer - outlined “concerns” he has for his uncle and accuses him of “idolatry” by pursuing a university degree.
“Woe to you shepherds who lead my flock astray,” Lachlan writes.
“Instead of participating in fellowship meetings your children are sent to their rooms to study.
“By now, they should be heavily involved in the meetings, encouraging others and using (their) spiritual voice.”
Lachlan claims Murray is not able to be a pastor as he is “not able to lead his own children in the truth”.
“I pray you are able to be corrected by this rebuke... we will continue to put our trust solely in God,” he continues.
Lachlan ends the email with a bible passage: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked nor stands in the way of sinners nor sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
A recorded interview with Jason Struhs on January 8 was also played to the court.
He is heard telling police he is “not sad” at his daughter’s passing as she was “with God” and he no longer feels “trapped” by Elizabeth’s diabetes.
One of the officers asks Jason if he has any regrets regarding Elizabeth’s death, to which he replies: “No”.
“I’m happy for her, I’m at peace,” Jason is heard saying.”
“She hated it (the insulin).”
Earlier in the day,Brisbane Supreme Court was shown hundreds of texts exchanged between members of the group dating back as far as 2019.
During the week of Elizabeth’s death, Jason texted Brendan Stevens that he was struggling after seeing his daughter become unwell.
Members of The Saints attended the Struhs home over the following days and continued to share messages encouraging Jason to stay firm in his faith.
One message from Ms Martin to Andrea Stevens reads: “God won’t give Jason more than he can bear.”
In another, Andrea texts Ms Martin: “Not by might, not by power, but by my spirit this mountain shall be removed.”
The judge-alone trial continues.