Sect called medicine ‘witchcraft’: court told
A woman facing trial after Elizabeth Struhs, 8, died had become a “different person” after joining the religious group allegedly responsible for her death, a court was told.
A woman standing trial alongside 13 others over the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs had “very quickly” become a “different person” less than three months after joining the religious group allegedly linked to her death, a court was told.
The Crown has alleged during the trial that Elizabeth died inside her family home in January 2022 after her father Jason Richard Struhs, 52, mother Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, 49, and 12 other members of The Saints withheld her insulin medication over several days.
The young girl became more and more unwell until she died sometime between January 6-7 that year.
It is further alleged instead of seeking medical attention for the girl as her health began to fail, the group prayed for God to heal her, believing she would rise again in line with their beliefs.
Mr Struhs and Brendan Stevens, 62, who is the leader of The Saints, are each charged with murder.
Eleven others, including Kerrie Struhs, Elizabeth’s older brother Zachary Alan Struhs, 21, Loretta Mary Stevens, 67 – the wife of Brendan Stevens – and her adult children Acacia Naree Stevens, 31, Therese Maria Stevens, 37, Sebastian James Stevens, 23, Andrea Louise Stevens, 34, Camellia Claire Stevens, 28, and Alexander Francis Stevens, 26, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 34 and his wife Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, 26, and a third woman, Keita Courtney Martin, 22, are also charged with manslaughter.
All 14 have pleaded not guilty to their charges.
On Monday, a friend of Ms Schoenfisch, Katelyn Dodman, told the court the pair were “best friends” and enjoyed each other’s company as they navigated motherhood together.
Ms Dodman said Ms Schoenfisch began telling how she was “excited” about the new church she had joined.
“At first, being a Christian, I thought that was great,” Ms Dodman said.
“But (she) started going into different things and at the time, I’m not a very confrontational person, so I didn’t think to say things (to her).
“She basically said I was wrong and that I needed to check myself.
“I tried to do the research to try to sway her back, but it would end in arguments.”
The court heard after a conversation between the pair in November 2021, Ms Dodman sent several messages to Ms Schoenfisch about her new-found religious beliefs.
Ms Dodman said Ms Schoenfisch had told her that she’d learned through her new church that some words in the Bible referring to medicine actually referred to “witchcraft” and that “we shouldn’t be doing these things”.
“I called and messaged later saying this is not what that means (in the Bible), you’ve been told the wrong thing,” Ms Dodman said.
“I don’t like to start arguments, (I thought) maybe she doesn’t understand what she’s saying.”
Ms Dodman said Ms Schoenfisch “very quickly” turned away from medicine and medical practices, including not using creams or ointments for her child who had developed a rash.
“She had believed that medicine was a form of witchcraft,” she said.
“She got rid of everything (medical related).
“She wasn’t using anything, like medications and she wasn’t wearing her glasses anymore.
“She always wore glasses when she was doing hair (as a hairdresser) or driving.
“Within six weeks to three months she was a different person.”
Ms Dodman said she had also seen a change in Mr Schoenfisch, although she didn’t usually socialise with him as much as she did with his wife.
“He was normal, happy … and strong in his faith,” she said.
“Then (he started acting) quite strong, very sure of himself.
“He wasn’t wearing glasses and was quite strong on getting his point across.
“It was kind of like he was talking for Sam, it was a different side I hadn’t seen before.”
The court was told Ms Dodman and her husband Ryan visited the couple in their home in early January 2022.
The two couples got into an argument after Mr Schoenfisch told Ms Dodman her mother’s breast cancer battle was because she didn’t have “enough faith” and “that’s why she got sick”, the court was told.
Ms Dodman said Mr Schoenfisch had told her that her mother is “going to hell because she has (cancer) and she doesn’t trust in God enough”.
Last week, the trial heard evidence about Elizabeth’s diagnosis of type-1 diabetes in 2019 after she became critically unwell.
Both Jason and Kerrie were charged with failing to supply the girl with the necessaries of life.
Jason pleaded guilty and received a wholly suspended sentence, giving evidence against his wife at her District Court trial in 2021.
Kerrie, who was self-represented, was found guilty and sentenced to five months’ jail.
Ms Dodman said Ms Schoenfisch had spoken about Kerrie’s imprisonment and told her that it was “amazing she’s in a place she can talk about Jesus”.
The court heard she was also told about how the group had tried to get Jason to take Elizabeth off her medication and that they were happy he finally did in early January 2022.
“Sam brought up the little girl had been taken off insulin and they’re really excited because she’s been healed,” Ryan Dodman told the court.
“Lachlan said something (about how) he ‘went over there yesterday, he was playing with her, she’s completely fine and that she’s completely healed’.”
The judge alone trial continues in Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday.