A six-year-old girl was taken to hospital “on the verge of death” after being neglected about 18 months before she was allegedly murdered by her parents’ religious group, a court has heard.
Eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs died on January 7, 2022, at her family home in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, after her parents and 12 others withheld her diabetes medication and insulin for six days in favor of prayer.
Brendan Luke Stevens, the 62-year-old leader of the Christian group calling itself ‘The Saints’, is on trial for murder in the Brisbane Supreme Court along with the girl’s father, Jason Richard Struhs, 52.
Elizabeth’s mother, Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, 49, and the other 11 members of the congregation are charged with manslaughter.
Louise Conwell, a senior endocrinologist at Queensland Children’s Hospital, testified on Tuesday during the fifth day of the trial, which was to be conducted by the judge alone, presided over by Justice Martin Burns.
Associate Professor Conwell said Elizabeth was flown by helicopter to hospital in Brisbane in July 2019 after her then-undiagnosed type 1 diabetes left her reliant on adrenaline doses and a breathing tube to keep her heart and lungs working properly.
“It was an extremely rare event… it was the most seriously ill child I have ever seen,” Associate Professor Conwell said.
During questioning by prosecutor Caroline Marco, Associate Professor Conwell said she explained to Jason and Kerrie Struhs that she had diabetes and would need lifelong medication to keep Elizabeth alive.
Elizabeth Struhs (pictured) was allegedly murdered after members of a faith-based healing church withheld insulin from her for days in early 2022
Louise Conwell (pictured), senior endocrinologist at Queensland Children’s Hospital, said she explained to Elizabeth’s parents that she would need medication for the rest of her life to keep her alive.
“I explained to her that she was close to death at that point and was still very ill. She would need to continue taking insulin,” the specialist said.
All 14 defendants represented themselves and declined to enter a plea to Stevens, telling the court that they had a reasonable belief that God would cure Elizabeth’s diabetes.
Camellia Claire Stevens, 28, one of 11 accused of manslaughter, questioned Associate Professor Conwell, asking her whether Elizabeth’s recovery in 2019 had been “quite miraculous”.
“It was very fortunate. She received excellent treatment from the moment she was brought to hospital in Toowoomba. It is a testament to her prompt treatment and continued care … without that treatment she would have died. She was minutes away from death,” Assoc Prof Conwell said.
Jason Struhs told police he took Elizabeth to the hospital against Kerri Struhs’ wishes. Kerri Struhs would later be jailed for five months for failing to provide Elizabeth with the necessities of life in 2019.
Kerrie Struhs told Detective Andrew Lowe that “God can make the seemingly impossible happen.”
“I firmly believe that God is in our lives. He has promised healing,” Mrs. Struhs said in a police interview played to Judge Burns.
Elizabeth Struhs died on January 7, 2022, after her parents and 12 others withheld her diabetes insulin medication for six days in favor of prayer
When asked what treatment she gave Elizabeth when her undiagnosed diabetes worsened, Kerrie Struhs said she gave her diapers to wear to school.
Assoc Prof Conwell previously testified that Elizabeth suffered from incontinence as her body tried to get rid of excess sugar.
The other suspects are Loretta Mary Stevens, 67, Andrea Louise Stevens, 34, Acacia Naree Stevens, 31, 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.