Woman’s act after diabetic girl’s death

A woman charged over the death of a young diabetic girl told police she didn’t know what caused the child’s death, claiming the police investigation is “God allowing something to happen for a bigger purpose”.

Keita Courtney Martin is one of 14 people on trial over the death of Elizabeth Struhs, 8, in her family’s Rangeville home, near Toowoomba, in early 2022.

The child died of diabetic ketoacidosis between January 6-7 that year after her parents and members of her faith-healing church allegedly withheld her lifesaving insulin medication for several days.

Ms Martin, 22, is charged with Elizabeth’s manslaughter.

During an interview with police following her arrest in July 2022, she says she helped Elizabeth go to the toilet when she was not able to support herself and performed odd jobs such as cooking for the family in the days the child lay dying.

She continues by saying she cut up soft fruits like mango for Elizabeth to eat.

“I probably held her up, she would have been a bit drowsy,” Ms Martin tells police.

“I’d put it to her lips … pop it in her mouth.”

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 her father to remain steadfast in his belief over the following days while his daughter’s condition worsened.

During her interview, Ms Martin said she didn’t know how much Elizabeth was eating but everyone was checking to see if she wanted food when she was awake.

She tells detectives others in the house would report the child would “make a noise” to indicate if she wanted food.
Ms Martin remained at the Struhs’s house until Thursday.

She returned the following day with other members of the Stevens and Schoenfisch families after Elizabeth died.

Ms Martin tells detectives everyone sang songs and “waited for the Lord to work in front of our eyes”.

Evidence has already been given in court that Elizabeth’s father, Jason Richard Struhs, phoned triple-0 36 hours later to inform them of her death.

Ms Martin then defends the group’s actions, saying there was “no disregard of danger” or “lack of sympathy or love or care” in their omission to take Elizabeth to hospital.

She says police had deemed it “illegal” for people to “trust in God for healing”.

Asked what she thought Elizabeth died of, Ms Martin tells detectives: “I don’t know, except to say it was a sickness.”

“I can only tell you what I know, and that is that God does heal, and that time and all physical circumstances … (are) not constrained,” she continues.

“This whole investigation and trial upon me and my family … is God allowing something to happen for a bigger purpose.”

Detectives then ask her if she had seen God raise anyone from the dead previously.

Ms Martin answers: “No.”

Elizabeth’s father Jason Richard Struhs, 57, and 62-year-old Brendan Luke Stevens – the leader of The Saints – are both charged with her murder.

Her mother Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, 49, and elder brother Zachary Alan Struhs, 21, are facing charges of manslaughter.

Loretta Mary Stevens, 67 – the wife of Brendan Stevens – and their 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 Ms Martin are also charged with manslaughter.

All 14 defendants have pleaded not guilty to their charges.

The judge-only trial continues.