Elizabeth Struhs murder case: Alexander Francis Stevens, Sebastian James Stevens and Zachary Alan Struhs face committal hearing at Toowoomba Magistrates Court

One of the 14 people accused of the murder of Toowoomba child Elizabeth Struhs has told the court evidence tendered against the group was “slander and gossip”, at his committal hearing.

A man accused of being a member of a “cult-like” religious group charged with the murder of an eight-year-old Toowoomba girl has said the brief of evidence is “slander and gossip”.

Alexander Francis Stevens, 24, as well Sebastian James Stevens and Zachary Alan Struhs, appeared in person at the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on October 24 for a committal hearing charged with the murder of Toowoomba girl Elizabeth Struhs.

Elizabeth Rose Struhs

Police allege the three men, as well as 11 others including Elizabeth’s parents, were at Elizabeth’s Meredith Crescent home in Rangeville in the days leading up to her death on January 7.

Police also allege the accused were aware Elizabeth had Type 1 diabetes, that the medication was being withheld but did not call for help, instead holding a prayer service believing God would save Elizabeth’s life.

A committal hearing allowed for evidence to be tendered to the court and a decision to be made if the charges would proceed forward to a higher court, in this case, a murder trial at the Supreme Court.

Police have charged Kerrie and Jason Struhs with murder, torture 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.

The three men rejected the option of legal representation and to cross examine witnesses, and at the commencement of the committal hearing, confirmed they had been given access to the brief of evidence provided by the prosecution.

They have not been required to enter a plea towards the charges yet.

Last week during a co-accused’s committal hearing, Magistrate Clare Kelly told Police prosecutor Sergeant Alister Windsor she had trouble accessing certain evidence on a disk, and instructed him to fix that before the October 24 hearing.

From the outside, the house were Elizabeth Rose Struhs died seems like any other Rangeville home.

It is understood Alexander Stevens also had trouble accessing that information.

Sgt Windsor confirmed the relevant information was emailed to the correctional facilities where all accused were being held, in which he received confirmation from the centre holding Mr Stevens, however they were yet to distribute it to him.

Sgt Windsor told the court he would print the documents and give it to the correctional facility as a back up.

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

Sgt Windsor proceeded to tender more than 150 witness statements and exhibits that made up the prosecution’s brief of evidence towards the accused to the court.

Magistrate Clare Kelly told the court during all three accused hearings that they each had the opportunity to say anything they wish, however it was not a requirement.

While Sebastian Stevens and Struhs both declined to comment, Alexander Stevens, with clear frustration on his face, said the evidence tendered to court that day was full of “slander and gossip”.

“I have read through the vast majority of all that evidence and the most of it amounts to slander and gossip,” he said.

“Besides that of the officers that attended the scene, the rest of it is personal opinion of people who have known us, not relevant witnesses.”

Ms Kelly told the court she would not conclude the proceedings that day, however allow for time to access the evidence before making her decision at a later date.

She asked all three defendants if they understood what had occurred in the court, and all three nodded.

Ms Kelly remanded the three men in custody, with them to next appear at the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on November 3.