Court told dad accused of killing 8yo diabetic daughter was ‘brainwashed’ into cult-like church group

The father of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs was “brainwashed” by the cult-like church group accused of fatally withholding her insulin for days, a court has been told.

The former boss of a man charged with killing his diabetic daughter has told a court his employee had been “brainwashed” into joining the fringe cult-like church group accused of fatally withholding the girl’s insulin.

Jason Richard Struhs is among 14 people on trial over the death of his eight-year-old daughter Elizabeth Struhs, who was found dead in her Rangeville home in early 2022.

Witness Brendan O’Donnell, who employed Mr Struhs, gave evidence of how Mr Struhs changed after joining the religious group known as The Saints, following Elizabeth’s near-death encounter in 2019.

Brendan O’Donnell, the former boss of Jason Struhs, told Brisbane Supreme Court he believed members of the fringe religious group known as The Saints ‘brainwashed’ Jason after he joined them. Picture: NewsWire

Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs and Jason Richard Struhs are both on trial over the death of their daughter Elizabeth in early 2022. Picture: Supplied / A Current Affair

He took aim at the fringe group’s beliefs and how Mr Struhs was treated as an “easy target” as a recent convert to Christianity.

“I feared for him,” Mr O’Donnell told the court.

“Jason was touched by god. He was a new convert and was an easy target to be brainwashed into their way of believing.”

The Crown alleges Mr Struhs, his wife Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs and other members of The Saints withheld Elizabeth’s insulin for several days, until she died between January 6-7 in 2022.

The court has already heard evidence the group rejected medicine and medical treatment, believing God would heal all ailments.

Jason Struhs, 57, and 62-year-old Brendan Luke Stevens – the leader of The Saints – are both charged with Elizabeth’s murder while Kerrie Struhs, 49, is charged with manslaughter.

Elizabeth’s elder brother Zachary Alan Struhs, 21, Loretta Mary Stevens, 67 – the wife of Brendan Stevens – and her adult children Acacia Naree Stevens, 31, Therese Maria Stevens, 37, Sebastian James Stevens, 23, Andrea Louise Stevens, 34, Camellia Claire Stevens, 28, and Alexander Francis Stevens, 26, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 34 and his wife Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, 26, and a third woman, Keita Courtney Martin, 22, are also charged with manslaughter.

They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Mr O’Donnell (centre) said he felt The Saints cherrypicked scripture to suit their narrative and warned Jason about learning aspects of his new-found faith from them. Picture: NewsWire

In his evidence Mr O’Donnell said he noticed Jason was not as angry after his “spiritual encounter” when he joined The Saints in August 2021.

Mr O’Donnell said Jason was attempting to look after his family while Kerrie was serving time in prison for failing to supply Elizabeth with the necessaries of life back in 2019.

He said he felt Zachary Struhs wanted “more” from his father and wanted Jason to share his beliefs.

“Because his relationship with Zach was ailing quick, he came to a point he prayed with Zach,” Mr O’Donnell said.

“He genuinely wanted a good relationship with his son, he told me.”

In his statement to police, Mr Struhs (left) said his wife did not tell him how serious Elizabeth’s condition was in 2019, as she knew he would take her to hospital against her religious beliefs. Picture: Supplied

The court was told Mr O’Donnell felt Jason had a “genuine encounter with God” but felt he began to distance himself.

“(I felt) Zach and the group were influencing him,” Mr O’Donnell said.

The court was told Mr O’Donnell urged him not to go around to the Stevens house.

“I wanted him to learn the genuine side of the Bible, the full context of what’s in there,” he said.

“What I noticed was over the years, from conversations with Jason at work, the group used to take little pieces out of the Bible to suit their narrative.”

Lachlan Schoenfisch asked Mr O’Donnell during his cross-examination if he considered “speaking in tongues” an essential part of “salvation”, to which Mr O’Donnell answered: “No.”

He also denied thinking Jason was “weak” when asked by Alexander Stevens, adding that he felt Jason was “brainwashed” into the group’s way of believing.

Elizabeth almost died in 2019 as a result of diabetic ketoacidosis. Picture: Supplied

More than a dozen members of a faith-healing group known as The Saints – which include Elizabeth’s parents – are on trial over her death. Picture: Court Sketch / NewsWire

Calls made by Kerrie during her time in jail were also played in Brisbane Supreme Court.

She made 119 calls to Jason and Zachary and to Brendan between August 10 and December 14, 2021.

The court was previously told Jason was baptised into the group around August 2021 after struggling to cope with managing the children and administering Elizabeth’s insulin.

In one call on August 23, he tells Kerrie he had “broken down” and sought help from his work and Zachary.

Jason tells her he woke up the next day and felt “calm and peaceful and not angry”.

A day later, he said he had “not received the Holy Spirit yet” but tells her he will keep giving Elizabeth insulin and taking her to the doctor “until it’s proven she’s cured”.

On August 31, Jason tells Kerrie: “The Lord decided to give me the Holy Spirit.”

“That’s great, oh my goodness!” Kerrie responds.

The judge-only trial continues.

Originally published as Court told dad accused of killing 8yo diabetic daughter was ‘brainwashed’ into cult-like church group