Mother on trial for girl's death acted on Bible 'facts'

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 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 mother, Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, 49, and the other 11 members of the congregation are charged with manslaughter.

Justice Martin Burns on Wednesday heard audio from Kerrie Struhs representing herself at trial in 2021 for failing to provide the necessities of life to Elizabeth in 2019 when she nearly died from then-undiagnosed diabetes.

Struhs told the jury she did not take Elizabeth to hospital as her symptoms worsened due to her faith as well as fear of mistakes by the medical system involving others.

"I could see how sick she was. It was quite obvious. But I had the evidence of God with me. I had the facts in the Bible," Struhs said.

Struhs said she acted on evidence from the Bible that God had cured diseases and raised people from the dead.

"God did not give me the sickness of a child for no reason. He is trying to show that he is there," Struhs said.

Struhs was convicted and served five months of an 18-month sentence, being released before she and the other defendants allegedly killed Elizabeth in 2022.

At Kerrie Struhs' sentencing in 2021, the judge said it was very fortunate that Elizabeth survived her mother's "dangerous and unacceptable conduct while pursuing religious beliefs".

" (Elizabeth) was unable to make an informed decision to seek medical attention. It was your responsibility to get it for her ... you added to the danger she faced and extended her suffering," the judge said.

All 14 defendants in the current trial, which is being heard without a jury, are self-represented and have refused to enter pleas.

Justice Burns heard that Jason Struhs agreed to give evidence against his wife in her 2021 trial in exchange for a wholly suspended sentence for failing to provide the necessities of life.

Struhs testified that he was "furious" with his wife for concealing the seriousness of Elizabeth's illness while he was away working long hours on night shifts at a bakery to support the family.

Crown prosecutor in the current trial, Caroline Macro, said Jason Struhs in the months before Elizabeth died had adopted the views of his wife that God would heal Elizabeth if she got sick again.

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.

Australian Associated Press