Elizabeth Struhs murder: Samantha Emily Crouch, Keita Courtney Martin, Loretta Mary Stevens, Andrea Louise Stevens have matters mentioned in Toowoomba Magistrates Court

One of the church members accused of depriving a young girl of lifesaving medication causing her death says she is not “overly concerned” about the legal proceedings, as four of the 14 charged with murder front court.

Four people accused of being involved in a tight-knit religious group and charged with the alleged murder of a sick eight-year-old girl by opting for prayer instead of medicine have had their matters mentioned in court.

Samantha Emily Crouch, Keita Courtney Martin, Loretta Mary Stevens and Andrea Louise Stevens all appeared by video link in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday, with the group all charged with the murder of Toowoomba girl Elizabeth Rose Struhs.

None of the four have entered pleas to the charges.

Police allege the four accused, as well as ten 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 will further allege the accused were aware that Elizabeth had Type 1 diabetes, that the medication was being withheld but did not call for help. Instead, police will allege the accused held a prayer service and sang songs, believing God would save Elizabeth’s life.

Samantha Emily Crouch.

During the brief mention on Wednesday magistrate Clare Kelly sought to confirm that each person had received their brief of evidence to the charge, and that they were aware they could make an application to request to cross-examine any witness who had provided a statement as part of the brief of evidence, with all four confirming they had received the brief, would represent themselves and not seek to cross-examine any witnesses.

Appearing before the court first, Ms Crouch told Ms Kelly she wasn’t “overly concerned” with the legal proceedings or the charge she was facing.

“I’ll just say the same thing to the court that I’ve said the whole time … just exactly what happened, just the truth,” Ms Crouch said.

“I’m not concerned, I’m not going to be worried.

“I won’t be saying anything new to what I said in my first, second or third interview.”

Keita Courtney Martin.

Other than confirm they understood the questions and procedures, the three other accused remained silent during their mentions.

Ms Kelly told all four accused that their charges had to proceed to a committal hearing, where a magistrate would examine all the police statements and exhibits that make up their brief of evidence, then make a ruling as to whether the matter would be committed to the Supreme Court.

The magistrate made a direction that police prosecution provide statements to the court and to the individual accused, outlining their liability to the charge of murder, and the evidence they allege makes out the elements of the charge.

All four made no application for bail, and were remanded in custody to next appear in person at their respective committal hearing.

Ms Crouch and Ms Martin’s committal hearing was listed for October 11, with Loretta and Andrea Stevens’ committal hearing listed for October 14.