Elizabeth Struhs trial: 14 religious group members in court over death of eight-year-old girl

A religious group is on trial accused of withdrawing eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs’ insulin, believing God would save her. The little girl suffered for days before dying.

A young child suffered for days before dying on a mattress on the floor of a living room after lifesaving medication was withheld by her parents who believed in the medical healing power of God, a court has heard.

The horrific final days and hours of eight-year-old Toowoomba girl Elizabeth Struhs was detailed by prosecutors against 14 hard line religious group members, including her parents.

Elizabeth’s diabetes medication was stopped “in accordance with the extreme beliefs of their congregation”.

The young girl died on a mattress on the tiled floor of the downstairs living area in the family’s Rangeville home sometime on the evening of January 6, 2022 or in the early morning of January 7.

Artist impression by Brett Lethbridge of group leader Brendan Stevens.

Her father Jason Richard Struhs, 52, and the religious group’s alleged leader Brendan Luke Stevens, 62, are both charged with murder.

Elizabeth’s mother Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, 49, and brother Zachary Alan Struhs, 21 have been charged with manslaughter along with 10 other members of the religious group.

They are Loretta Mary Stevens, 67, Therese Maria Stevens, 36, Andrea Louise Stevens, 34, Acacia Naree Stevens, 31, Camellia Claire Stevens, 28, Alexander Francis Stevens, 25, Sebastian James Stevens, 23, Keita Courtney Martin, 22, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 33, and Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, 25.

The self-represented defendants, who appeared jovial and relaxed, in Brisbane’s Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to enter pleas with Justice Martin Burns directing pleas of not guilty be entered on their behalf.

Crown prosecutor Caroline Marco said Elizabeth “suffered for days … due to the absence of treatment” for her diabetes.

“Lifesaving insulin was totally withdrawn from her on January 3, by her parents … [because] they believed God would heal her”.

Artist impression by Brett Lethbridge of Kerrie Struhs mother of Elizabeth Struhs

Ms Marco told the court Elizabeth vomited after each meal on January 4, which continued the following day as she descended into a state of altered consciousness, slurring her words and needing help to go to the toilet.

By January 6 she stopped talking and was unconscious for most of the day, Ms Marco told the court.

The trial heard that night the dying girl was left in the care of Acacia, Camellia and Sebastian Stevens when her parents went to bed.

Around 5.30am on January 7, Elizabeth was found not breathing, still on the mattress.

Kerrie Struhs had been a member of the religious group for 17 years, the court heard.

However her husband Jason had been against the group’s beliefs for years and only joined four months before his daughter’s death.

Elizabeth’s eldest sister Jayde Struhs is expected to tell the court about life growing up with the congregation.

Growing up she did not go to the doctor or dentist, however her father made sure the children were vaccinated, Ms Marco said.

Elizabeth Rose Struhs died on January 7, 2022.

Ms Marco said she would tell the court about Brendan Steven’s strong views he would push on the congregation about “God being the ultimate creator who had the ability to heal”, Ms Marco said.

“In accordance with that belief they were instructed to call on God to heal them at times of sickness rather than to rely on doctors and medicine, which were created by man,” Ms Marco said.

About two and half years before her death Elizabeth was taken to hospital by her father “limp and unresponsive”.

“Dr Christopher Jarvis … initially thought she was dead because she appeared in such poor condition,” Ms Marco said.

“Dr Jarvis examined Elizabeth and found that she was suffering from life threatening diabetic ketoacidosis due to type one diabetes.”

At the time she weighed just 13 to 15kg and was released after a month in hospital.

Artist impression by Brett Lethbridge of Jason Struhs father of Elizabeth.

Ms Marco said in the lead up to Elizabeth’s 2019 hospitalisation some of the defendants offered Kerrie Struhs “words of encouragement to believe in God’s healing”.

Ms Marco said there were messages from Kerrie to Brendan about Jason wanting to take Elizabeth to hospital and she did not know how to stop him.

“(Jason) says he is taking Elizabeth in the morning. Mr Brendan Stevens responded a minute later with ‘God shall prevail, not Jason,’” Ms Marco said.

Once Elizabeth was hospitalised Kerrie did not once visit her despite requests, Ms Marco said.

The trial also heard that when doctors tried to educate Kerrie about her daughter’s diabetes and required insulin, she told them “Elizabeth will be cured” by God.

The court heard Kerrie was subsequently charged and found guilty of failing to provide Elizabeth with the necessaries of life and jailed for four months. Her husband gave evidence against her at the trial.

She was only released from prison three weeks before Elizabeth died.

Ms Marco said the Crown would seek to prove that Kerrie and the other 12 defendants “united to persuade” Jason to accept all of the congregation’s hard line beliefs.

The defendants at times laughed and shook their heads during Ms Marco’s opening address.

The judge-alone trial will continue on Thursday.

Originally published as Elizabeth Struhs trial: 14 religious group members in court over death of eight-year-old girl