Elizabeth Struhs murder: Samantha Emily Crouch, Keita Courtney Martin, accused of being members of religious group that withheld lifesaving medicine, face committal hearing

The evidence against two women charged with the murder of an eight-year-old Toowoomba girl has been tendered to a court, including a surprise revelation against the leader of their tight knit religious group.

Two women accused of being members of an ad hoc religious group charged with the murder of an eight-year-old girl by withholding lifesaving medicine have faced a committal hearing.

In separate hearings Keita Courtney Martin and Samantha Emily Crouch appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on October 11, charged with the murder of Toowoomba girl Elizabeth Struhs.

Police allege the two women, as well as 12 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.

They also allege the accused were aware that 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.

Samantha Emily Crouch.

Ms Martin, who appeared in person, and Ms Crouch, who appeared via video from Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre, have not yet been required to enter any plea to the charge of murder, and have been remanded in custody since their arrest in July.

At the commencement of their committal hearings magistrate Louise Shephard confirmed that both were aware of why they were in court, with Ms Martin replying that she was aware that she had been charged with the “so-called” murder of Elizabeth Struhs.

The pair both told the court that they were intending to legally represent themselves in the proceedings, and declined to make any application to cross-examine any witnesses that had provided a statement that made up police brief of evidence.

Ms Shephard explained to both defendants the committal hearing was to allow the magistrate to decide whether the evidence presented by the Crown was sufficient to have the case committed to the Supreme Court for trial, with the prosecution presenting two statements that pointed to the evidence in their police brief that they submit makes out the specific elements of the murder charge and their liability in the alleged offence.

Keita Courtney Martin.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Alister Windsor proceeded to present to the court more than 100 witness statements and exhibits that made up their brief of evidence, with documents tendered including witness statements from general duties police, police investigators and forensic officers, medical evidence including Elizabeth’s diabetes action plan and records from Queensland Health and Toowoomba Hospital as well as an autopsy report and certificate.

Forensic images from the Struhs family’s Rangeville home were also tendered as well as property items from the house, as well as CCTV and dashcam footage obtained from neighbours and bodyworn camera footage from officers that attended the home.

The brief of evidence also included a Queensland Police Service employment history of the group’s alleged ringleader Brendan Stevens.

The court was told police also retrieved data from the defendant’s iPhones, and that police had retrieved telecommunication data.

Sergeant Windsor also revealed the brief of evidence contained screenshots of a GoFundMe established by Elizabeth’s older sister Jayde, as well as a variety of social media posts and messages.

Ms Shephard remanded both Ms Crouch and Ms Martin in custody, reserving her decision on whether the pair will stand trial for murder.

Ms Martin will next appear in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on October 26, while Ms Crouch will next be in court on October 28.