Mum told to give dying child ‘juice’: court
Written by admin on July 25, 2024
A woman on trial for the manslaughter of a young diabetic girl urged her mother to give the child “juice” and “olive oil or salve” on her lips as the girl became closer to death.
More than a dozen members of a cult-like religious group known as The Saints are on trial over the death of Elizabeth Struhs, 8, in Toowoomba in early 2022.
The Crown contends the child’s parents – Jason Richard Struhs and Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs – and members of the faith-healing circle withheld the Elizabeth’s insulin medication for several days until she died between January 6-7, 2022.
Mr and Ms Struhs are charged with murder and manslaughter respectively.
Another 11 – Elizabeth’s older brother Zachary Alan Struhs, 21, Loretta Mary Stevens, 67, Acacia Naree Stevens, 31, Therese Maria Stevens, 37, Sebastian James Stevens, 23, Andrea Louise Stevens, 34, Camellia Claire Stevens, 28, Alexander Francis Stevens, 26, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 34, his wife Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, 26, and Keita Courtney Martin, 22 – are also charged with manslaughter.
Brendan Luke Stevens, the leader of The Saints, is also charged with murder.
Brisbane Supreme Court has heard evidence the girl almost died from her Type-1 diabetes in July 2019.
She was only saved after her father, Jason Richard Struhs, rushed her to hospital.
Texts exchanged between Elizabeth’s mother Kerrie and Loretta Stevens – the wife of Brendan Stevens – reveal Ms Stevens sharing advice on how to care for Elizabeth in the days she was becoming critically unwell from the condition in 2019.
In the text, sent on July 18 at 10.26pm, Loretta tells Kerrie “juices would be fine”, urging her to dilute them with water and apply “olive oil or salve” on the child’s lips.
“Mum used to give us grated apple when we were sick – easier to digest I suppose,” Loretta’s text to Kerrie continues.
Earlier in the trial, the court was told Elizabeth spent weeks recovering in Brisbane Children’s Hospital where she was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes.
In the week of her death in 2022, the court was told multiple texts were shared between the Struhs, Stevens and Schoenfisch families as Elizabeth became progressively more ill.
One sent by Keita Martin to Andrea Stevens on January 4 read: “Heading to Struhs now – Jason sent Dad (Brendan Stevens) a text saying he’s struggling and scared, despite much prayer. The prayer of The Saints avails much”.
Earlier that day Andrea texted Keita: “Not by might, not by power, but by my spirit this mountain shall be removed.”
In a text to his father about 10.50pm on January 5, 2022, Sebastian Stevens urges his father Brendan to have a “peaceful sleep” after “enduring another day”.
Sebastian says “Praise the Lord, dad” and declares he had “sought the Lord in your time and trial and have declared his true following in front of The Saints, as usual.”
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“We are both one day nearer the end of Elizabeth’s sickness and one day nearer the Lord’s return. The road is narrow and there are few that follow but when he returns he will find faith in Israel,” Sebastian’s message continues.
“Goodnight and God bless – peace, healing and comfort are your birthright so take them all.”
The judge-only trial continues.
