Elizabeth Struhs murder: Mother, church members accused of girl’s murder to stand trial

A mother and two members of a tight-knit religious group will stand trial over the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Rose Struhs. It comes just days after the courts confirmed the girl’s father would also be committed to trial.

The mother of eight-year-old Elizabeth Rose Struhs, who police claim died as a result of being deprived of her lifesaving medication, has been ordered to stand trial.

Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, 46, appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court via video link from the Brisbane Women’s Prison to hear the conclusion of her committal hearing.

Mrs Struhs had been charged with murder, failing to provide the necessities of life and torture arising from the death of Elizabeth at the family’s Rangeville home in January.

Magistrate Kay Phillipson said by the evidence Elizabeth Struhs had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2019 and required regular injections of insulin.

Elizabeth Rose Struhs

However, Ms Phillipson said it appeared Mrs Struhs and her husband Jason Struhs along with various members of the Stevens and Schoenfich families had belonged to a “religious group” led by Brendan Stevens in which members of the church believed in the “healing power of God rather than medical intervention”.

Ms Phillipson said by the evidence Elizabeth’s insulin injections had been ceased on January 3 and that she had died of resulting diabetic ketoacidosis on January 7.

As a result Mr and Mrs Struhs, along with 12 other people allegedly at the home during the period of Elizabeth’s deterioration and death, had been charged with “murder by reckless indifference”.

Jason Richard Struhs and Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs are both charged with the murder of their daughter Elizabeth Rose Struhs. Supplied

Ms Phillipson said she was satisfied there was sufficient evidence to put Mrs Struhs to trial on the charges of murder and failing to provide the necessities of life.

However, she said she was not satisfied that evidence existed that Mrs Struhs intentionally caused her daughter pain and suffering which was required to prove the charge of torture and the defendant was not committed on that charge.

Asked if she had anything to say, Mrs Struhs replied: “No, Your Honour”.

Mrs Struhs was committed to stand trial in the Toowoomba Supreme Court at a date to be set.

Her husband Jason Struhs was committed last week to stand trial in the same court on similar charges.

Police have charged Kerrie and Jason Struhs with murder and failing to provide the necessities of life after the body of Elizabeth Rose Struhs was found in a Meredith Crescent home in Rangeville Toowoomba on January 8, 2022.

Co-accused Andrea Louise Stevens, 31, and Loretta Mary Stevens, 65, were also committed to stand trial on the charge of murder in the Toowoomba Supreme Court at a date to fixed.

Ms Phillipson said she was satisfied that each knew Elizabeth had Type 1 diabetes and that she required insulin and that they knew Mr Struhs intended to and did cease insulin injections to his daughter.

Both appeared in court via video link from the prison and each replied “No” when asked if they had anything to say to being committed to trial.

Ms Phillipson said she was satisfied that the pair was at the Struhs home at the relevant time and that Andrea Stevens had stayed overnight and observed Elizabeth’s condition deteriorating and believed in, and supported, the religious group’s belief in the healing power of God rather than medical intervention.

There being no provision for defendants charged with murder to apply for bail in the Magistrates Court, Ms Phillipson remanded each of the three in custody awaiting trial.