A woman accused of an eight-year-old girl's manslaughter passionately described how the child had earlier been miraculously healed of diabetes, a court has been told.
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Elizabeth Struhs died at her family home in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, on January 7, 2022, after her parents and 12 others allegedly withheld her life-saving insulin for six days while they gathered around her praying.
Her father Jason Struhs and Brendan Luke Stevens, the 62-year-old leader of the Christian group calling itself "The Saints", are on trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court accused of Elizabeth's murder.
The girl's mother Kerrie Struhs, 49, and 11 members of the group are on trial charged with manslaughter.
The 14 self-represented defendants have refused to enter pleas, with Stevens telling the court they had reasonable belief God would cure Elizabeth's type-1 diabetes.
Mackenzie Schoenfisch testified on the eighth day of the trial on Friday about visiting the house of her cousin Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 34, and his wife Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, 26, in November 2021.
Hairdresser Samantha Schoenfisch passionately told her the couple, who are now among the 14 people charged, had joined a church which was founded on beliefs that came from an epiphany by a single person, the court was told.
The epiphany related to God being the healer of all things and the medical system not being needed, Ms Schoenfisch said.
Asked if her cousin's wife gave further information about the person, Ms Schoenfisch said he was an "ex-cop".
She told the court Samantha Schoenfisch talked passionately about Elizabeth being healed of diabetes and described the child's mother who was in jail as inspirational.
"She said that they had prayed over her and she had been miraculously healed of her diabetes and no longer needed her insulin," Ms Schoenfisch told the court.
Before Ms Schoenfisch left from the two-hour hair appointment the couple prayed for her, speaking a language she did not understand.
The judge-only trial before Justice Martin Burns on Friday heard recordings of phone calls between Kerrie Struhs and other accused while she was serving a five-month prison term in 2021 for failing to provide her daughter the necessities of life two years earlier.
Crown prosecutor Caroline Marco has told the trial that calls would show how Kerrie Struhs' relationship with her husband changed over the issue of religion.
In one call Brendan Stevens told Kerrie Struhs about an "amazing text" from her husband about his "miracle of being born again as a new man" on the group leader's birthday in October 2021.
Stevens read his text response, saying the message was a beautiful birthday gift, and said Kerrie Struhs should enjoy every day in prison as it was all worthwhile.
"Every time you're having a down day there, just think about that."
For some reason the change in Jason Struhs could only occur when his wife was taken away from him, Stevens said.
"You're coming back out to a brand new family, brand new man, brand new life."
Ms Marco has said Jason Struhs decided in late December 2021, soon after his wife was released from prison, to reduce Elizabeth's multiple daily insulin shots then completely stop the doses a few days later.
The other defendants are Zachary Alan Struhs, 21, Loretta Mary Stevens, 67, Therese Maria Stevens, 37, Andrea Louise Stevens, 34, Acacia Naree Stevens, 31, Camellia Claire Stevens, 28, Alexander Francis Stevens, 26, Sebastian James Stevens, 23, and Keita Courtney Martin, 22.
The trial is set down for nearly three months.
Australian Associated Press
