Dad’s admission after 8yo almost died
Written by admin on July 17, 2024
A court has been told the father of a young girl allegedly killed by her parents and members of a faith-healing church group told police he did not think God was going to heal his child, despite his wife’s assertion, when the girl became critically ill.
Jason Richard Struhs is the father of Elizabeth Struhs, 8, who was found dead at her family’s Rangeville home in early 2022.
A Supreme Court trial of Jason, his wife Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs and 12 other members of a cult-like religious circle known as The Saints has heard evidence Elizabeth became critically unwell as a result of her diabetes, which was yet to be diagnosed, in 2019.
The girl would have died if not for medical treatment when Jason rushed her to hospital.
His initial interview with police at Brisbane Children’s Hospital was played to the court, where Jason explains how he realised his daughter was in a “pretty bad state”.
In the audio, Jason explains he had a confrontation with Kerrie in the days prior about taking Elizabeth to hospital.
“She said God was going to heal her and I’m like: ‘I don’t think so’,” he says to the officer.
“This is the first time it’s ever come to this sort of situation, where I’ve actually had to do it and not worry about anything else.”
The Crown contends Elizabeth died between January 6 and 7, 2022 after Jason and Kerrie Struhs, and members of The Saints, withheld her insulin for several days.
Jason Struhs, 57, and 62-year-old Brendan Luke Stevens – the leader of The Saints – are both charged with Elizabeth’s murder while Kerrie Struhs, 49, is charged with manslaughter.
Elizabeth’s elder brother Zachary Alan Struhs, 21, Loretta Mary Stevens, 67 – the wife of Brendan Stevens – and her adult children Acacia Naree Stevens, 31, Therese Maria Stevens, 37, Sebastian James Stevens, 23, Andrea Louise Stevens, 34, Camellia Claire Stevens, 28, and Alexander Francis Stevens, 26, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 34 and his wife Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, 26, and a third woman, Keita Courtney Martin, 22, are also charged with manslaughter.
They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Detective Sergeant Eugene Waugh gave evidence he interviewed Jason Struhs after attending the Children’s Hospital in Brisbane on July 18, 2019.
In a recording captured by Sergeant Waugh, Jason is heard saying Elizabeth got progressively worse as a result of her Type-1 diabetes in the days prior.
He says his daughter was in a “pretty bad state” – eventually taking her to hospital on Wednesday when he realised how bad her condition was.
“She was not responsive, could barely keep her eyes open,” Jason is heard saying.
“She was pale … she couldn’t get to the toilet.
“When I picked her up I realised she had lost a bit of weight.
“That’s when I got really concerned, on Tuesday night.”
In the audio, Jason is heard saying his wife Kerrie is religious and “doesn’t believe in hospitals and doctors”.
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He explains they had a confrontation where Kerrie insisted God would heal Elizabeth, but tells the officer his response was: “I don’t think so”.
A recorded interview with Kerrie Struhs was also played to the court, where she is heard discussing her religious beliefs and saying she put Elizabeth in nappies when she was at school.
The trial continues.
