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Family and church responsible of manslaughter of younger woman in Toowomba

The parents and brother of an eight-year-old who died after being denied lifesaving medicine, in the belief God would save her, have been found guilty of manslaughter.

Elizabeth Struhs died on January 7, 2022 at the family home in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, after six days without being given her prescribed insulin shots for type-1 diabetes

The girls’ parents, and 12 members of fringe Christian group ‘The Saints’, were accused of killing her by withholding her medication.

Elizabeth’s father, Jason Richard Struhs, 53, and the leader of the group, Brendan Luke Stevens, 63, faced murder charges at the trial before Justice Martin Burns in Brisbane’s Supreme Court

But Justice Burns had the option of finding them guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter, which he did on Wednesday. 

Elizabeth’s 49-year-old mother Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, and 22-year-old brother Zachary Alan Struhs were also found guilty of manslaughter, along with 10 other members of The Saints.

The trial saw chilling text messages between group members and family before Elizabeth’s death which showed the group believed she would be healed by God.

‘Rest in His glorious love, power and faithfulness. This is just a little trial to prove that you are all truly faithful to our faithful God,’ Stevens told Elizabeth’s parents on January 4. 

Elizabeth died on January 7, 2022 at her family's home in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane , after six days without her prescribed insulin shots for type-1 diabetes

Elizabeth died on January 7, 2022 at her family’s home in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane , after six days without her prescribed insulin shots for type-1 diabetes

The girl's father, Jason Richard Struhs, 53, was charged with murder but found guilty of manslaughter on Wednesday

The girl’s father, Jason Richard Struhs, 53, was charged with murder but found guilty of manslaughter on Wednesday

This is just a little trial to prove that you are all truly faithful to our faithful God,' Brendan Luke Stevens, found guilty of manslaughter, told Elizabeth's parents before she died

This is just a little trial to prove that you are all truly faithful to our faithful God,’ Brendan Luke Stevens, found guilty of manslaughter, told Elizabeth’s parents before she died

The next day Stevens sent another text saying ‘we sit and wait for the amazing miracle that God will perform’. 

Another group member messaged Elizabeth’s older brother saying her sickness was ‘just Satan having his last go’. 

Jason told the group he was feeling ‘scared’ about his decision to withhold the insulin, but they encouraged him to hold firm.

‘Be strong and of good courage. Be not afraid, neither dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go,’ Therese Stevens told him. 

Throughout the week, rather than seeking medical intervention, the group prayed for God to heal Elizabeth.  

On January 6, the day before Elizabeth died, one congregation member messaged another saying, ‘Elizabeth doesn’t appear to be breathing but we are all around her praying’. 

Stevens spoke for all defendants at the start of the months-long, judge-only trial in 2024. 

He claimed they held a reasonable belief that God would heal Elizabeth in line with the group’s rejection of modern medicine.

Elizabeth's 49-year-old mother, Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, was also found guilty of manslaughter

Elizabeth’s 49-year-old mother, Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, was also found guilty of manslaughter

‘This isn’t really a trial about murder of a child as it is religious persecution,’ Stevens said.

After considering his verdicts for nearly five months, Justice Burns delivered them on Wednesday in a courtroom specially modified to put all 14 defendants on trial at the same time.

Therese Maria Stevens, 37, Sebastian James Stevens, 24, Loretta Mary Stevens, 67, Camellia Claire Stevens, 29, Andrea Louise Stevens, 35, Alexander Francis Stevens, 26, Acacia Naree Stevens, 32, Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, 26, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 34, and Keita Courtney Martin, 24 were the other Saints members found guilty of manslaughter. 

The Saints shun all medical intervention, outside of basic first aid, in favour of the supposed healing power of God.