The father of a girl allegedly killed by a religious group withholding her diabetes medication had previously wanted to “protect her” from the congregation’s extreme beliefs, a judge has heard.
Eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs died at the family home in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, on January 7, 2022, after her parents and 12 others allegedly withheld her diabetes insulin medication for six days.
Brendan Luke Stevens, the 62-year-old leader of the Christian group calling itself The Saints, is on trial for murder along with the girl’s father, Jason Richard Struhs, 52, in the Brisbane Supreme Court.
Elizabeth’s sister, Jayde Struhs, gave evidence today in the judge-only trial’s second week and told Justice Martin Burns The Saints’ core belief was to reject all man-made medical treatment.
“That was the big one. God created us, He could heal us. You must be all-natural and pray to God,” she said.
She said she never went to a doctor or dentist as a child but was vaccinated at her father’s insistence.
Elizabeth’s mother, Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, 49, and the other 11 members of the congregation are charged with manslaughter.
Jayde, 26, said she left the group and moved out of home at age 16 after Kerrie Struhs and Stevens refused to accept she was homosexual.
She said her father contacted her in 2019 to say he was in a helicopter about to be taken to a hospital in Brisbane as Elizabeth was in a coma.
Under questioning from crown prosecutor Caroline Marco, Struhs said she then learned Elizabeth had type-1 diabetes and her father intended to push back against Kerrie Struhs, who had brought the family into The Saints.
“Dad wasn’t really a religious man. He didn’t join in. He was not a fan of it,” Struhs said.
She added her father was willing to give Elizabeth the constant glucose monitoring and multiple daily insulin shots she needed.
“He knew it would be tough. He took on the responsibility knowing he would get no help. He wanted to protect her. He wanted a lot of things to change when he got home as he nearly lost her,” Struhs said.
She told the court the group met in private homes to listen to Stevens read scripture from the King James Bible and an important part of membership was “receiving the Holy Spirit” via baptism and speaking in tongues.
Marco has previously told Justice Martin that Jason Struhs later relented to pressure from The Saints and was baptised in August 2021 before deciding to cease Elizabeth’s insulin doses in January 2022.
The other defendants are Loretta Mary Stevens, 67, Andrea Louise Stevens, 34, Acacia Naree Stevens, 31, Camellia Claire Stevens, 28, Therese Maria Stevens, 37 Keita Courtney Martin, 22, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 34, Samantha Emily Crouch, 26, Zachary Alan Struhs, 21, Sebastian James Stevens, 23, and Alexander Francis Stevens, 26.
All 14 defendants are self-represented and have refused to enter pleas.
Under cross-examination from her brother, Zachary Struhs, Jayde said it was possible for members of the group to disagree with the leader, Brendan Stevens, but she did not feel safe to do so.
“I never felt I had a voice,” she said.
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged five to 25)