Woman’s wild claim before girl, 8, died

A woman accused of killing a young diabetic girl told detectives the child wasn’t dead, asserting she could not be charged for killing someone who was “alive”, a court has been told.

Members of a cult-like religious group accused of killing a young diabetic girl were celebrating for the child’s “diabetes school stuff” to be over during the school holidays and said “expect things to happen”, a court has been told.

More than a dozen members of the religious circle known as The Saints are on trial in Brisbane Supreme Court over the death of Elizabeth Struhs, 8, in early 2022.

The child died between January 6-7 that year from diabetic ketoacidosis, which was allegedly caused when her insulin was withdrawn by her father and members of the faith-healing congregation several days before.

Police interviews with the defendants – which include her father Jason Richard Struhs, mother Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs and older brother Zachary Alan Struhs – are being played during the mammoth court proceeding.

In hers, Therese Maria Stevens is heard repeatedly saying “pass” when detectives question her role in failing to seek medical care for Elizabeth in the days before her death.

A series of texts exchanged between Ms Stevens, 37, and Ms Struhs, 49, was also recounted by detectives.

In it, Ms Stevens expressed joy at the child being home for the 2019-20 school holidays, along with the end of her insulin administration while at school.

She also states: “Expect things to happen.”

Detectives ask if Ms Stevens can explain what was planned by the church during the school holidays.

“Nothing (was planned),” Ms Stevens replies before saying “pass”.

Jason Struhs and Brendan Luke Stevens – Therese Stevens’s father and the leader of The Saints – are charged with Elizabeth’s murder.

Kerrie Struhs, Therese Stevens and 10 others are charged with the girl’s manslaughter.

All 14 defendants have pleaded not guilty to their charges.

The Crown contends Elizabeth’s parents made the decision to stop administering Elizabeth’s insulin for Jason to prove his new faith in God.

Members of the congregation are accused of encouraging the 52-year-old to remain steadfast in his belief over the following days while his daughter’s condition worsened.

The court has already heard evidence Elizabeth was rushed to hospital in mid-2019 after becoming deathly ill from her then-undiagnosed condition.

On Monday, Therese Stevens’s interview was played, where she repeatedly answers “pass” to many of the questions directed to her.

In a text to Kerrie in December 2019, Therese expresses joy at the “last day” of school.

Therese’s text continues: “No more diabetes school stuff until, well, maybe never. Expect things to happen. Woo-hoo! I’m so glad for you.”

Kerrie responds by saying “we are diligently praying over the school holidays for all this to be over”.

During the interview, detectives say the texts infer Elizabeth was expected to be free of diabetes during the school holidays.

Therese Stevens says nothing was planned.

She continues by stating the child was not dead and there was “no malicious intent” to do any harm to Elizabeth.

Therese then asks: “If somehow Elizabeth appears – which she will, but I don’t know when or where or how – if she does appear, will this charge still stand?”

“That’s the question the government will have to ask itself.

“You can’t be charged for killing someone who is alive.”

Detectives then show her pictures of the congregation crowding around Elizabeth’s body in the days before her death.

Therese goes on about the provision of care from hospitals, arguing “random doctors don’t get charged with murder and torture” if people die in hospital.

“We know God has healed Elizabeth … we’re not hiding anything,” she tells police.

“A photo like this was taken at a time anyone could take photos. She could have been alive and well the next day.

“There’s nothing wrong with taking a photo or what we did.

“This just makes me smile – we were there … I’m not smiling because it was a good time, it’s because Elizabeth is a healed girl.”

The judge-only trial continues.