Elizabeth Struhs verdict: Former golfing buddy of Jason Struhs does not understand how father could let his daughter die

All 14 people charged over the 2022 death of Elizabeth Struhs have been found guilty of manslaughter, but questions remain about how a loving father could watch his daughter die.

Jason Struhs’s former golfing buddy cannot fathom how the man he knew could turn out to be a killer.

Struhs, alongside his wife Kerrie, the leader of their insular church Brendan Stevens and 11 other members, including several of the adult sons and daughters of the Struhs couple and Mr Stevens, have been found guilty of manslaughter over the death of Elizabeth Struhs.

The eight-year-old girl died in her Rangeville home sometime around January 6-7, 2022, about four days after Jason made the decision to withhold the insulin she needed to keep her Type 1 diabetes in check.

Jason Struhs and Brendan Stevens were charged with murder but were found not guilty after a two-month long, judge-only trial before Justice Martin Burns.

They were instead found guilty of manslaughter.

Kerrie Struhs, Zachary Struhs, Loretta Stevens, Alexander Stevens, Sebastien Stevens, Andrea Stevens, Acacia Stevens, Camellia Stevens, Therese Stevens, Keita Martin, Lachlan Schoenfisch and Samantha Schoenfisch were charged with manslaughter and found guilty.

The father of a young girl who allegedly withheld her insulin – resulting in her death – made a frank admission to police after his daughter was raced to hospital years before.

Bill Horner was the treasurer of the Nanango Golf Club when the Struhs family lived in the South Burnett about eight years ago.

He said Jason was a respected member of the close-knit community.

“I am still reeling in shock,” he said.

“I don’t understand how he has allowed himself to get into this predicament.

“Jason was very supportive, he did some coaching and he was a bloody good golfer.

“I’d be surprised if you could find anyone in town who did not speak highly of him.”

During the course of the trial, the court was told Jason and Kerrie learnt their daughter had Type 1 diabetes when she collapsed in 2019.

At the time the couple initially declined to seek medical treatment because of Kerrie’s strict religious belief that only God could heal the sick.

Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs was found guilty of manslaughter over the death of her daughter Elizabeth.

Jason did not share the same beliefs and rushed Elizabeth to Toowoomba Hospital where doctors first thought she had died. She would end up spending several weeks in the hospital recovering.

The pair at the time were charged with failing to provide the necessities of life, to which Jason pleaded guilty and received a suspended sentence.

Kerrie was found guilty at trial and was jailed in 2021.

She was released on parole in December of that year and about three weeks later the decision was made to halt Elizabeth’s insulin.

The court was told that while initially Jason did not share Kerrie’s beliefs, he did eventually join the church, led by Brendan Stevens, midway through 2021.

Mr Horner said Kerrie was controlling.

“I knew from talking to Jason that things were not well at home, she was a stand-over bully,” he said.

“I saw him in tears working out what to do with his family.

“But he was also very much in love with his wife.”

Elizabeth’s passing sent shockwaves through Toowoomba. While the city is well-known for its vibrant Christian community, many of the faithful were left wondering how two parents could watch as their young daughter died in their home.

“Elizabeth Struhs was a beautiful, innocent child taken far too soon, in circumstances that should never have happened,” Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki said.

“This case has been deeply distressing for all who knew Elizabeth, particularly because it involved those who should have loved and protected her most.

“My thoughts are with her surviving siblings, who have endured unthinkable trauma.

“We, as a community, must remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting vulnerable children from neglect and harm.”