Murder accused said Elizabeth Struhs’ worsening health ‘just a little trial’ to test faith, court hears
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Version 0 of 1. Toowoomba religious sect leader, Brendan Luke Stevens, expressed confidence that eight-year-old would be healed by God, trial hears A religious leader charged with murdering an eight-year-old girl told her parents their daughter’s worsening health was “just a little trial” to prove their faith, a judge has heard. Brendan Luke Stevens, the 62-year-old leader of a small Christian group called “The Saints”, refused to enter a plea in the Brisbane supreme court to the murder of Elizabeth Rose Struhs on 7 January 2022. Elizabeth died while lying on a mattress on the floor of her family’s home in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, after days without insulin for her type 1 diabetes left her suffering from vomiting, unquenchable thirst and unconsciousness, the court has previously heard. Crown prosecutors on Friday finished reading to Justice Martin Burns more than 5,400 text messages as part of the 13th day of the judge-only trial. Stevens sent a text to Elizabeth’s parents at 10.51am on 4 January 2022 stating the congregation was confident that Elizabeth would be healed by God. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup “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 the couple. Justice Burns previously heard evidence that Elizabeth began to fall seriously ill on 3 January after her multiple daily insulin injections were completely halted. Elizabeth’s father, Jason Richard Struhs, 52, is also charged with her murder and her mother, Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, is charged with manslaughter. The Saints’ 11 other members, allegedly present when Elizabeth died, are charged with manslaughter. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Stevens previously told Justice Burns he and the other defendants, who are all self-represented and refused to enter pleas, had a reasonable religious belief God would cure Elizabeth’s diabetes. Jason Struhs messaged Stevens at 2.24pm on 4 January 2022 to state he was “struggling” over Elizabeth’s sickness. “I can’t seem to break out of this even with prayer and songs. I am so scared and lost in my thoughts. I thought I was ready for this step but now I seem to be questioning it,” Jason Struhs said. Stevens texted other defendants and urged them to contact the father to “encourage” him and he met with Jason Struhs at the family home. Defendant Sebastian James Stevens, 23, texted Elizabeth’s older brother and defendant Zachary Alan Struhs, 21, to compare her worsening sickness to the Gospel of Luke and the devil’s temptation of Jesus Christ in the wilderness. “This is just Satan having his last go,” Sebastian Stevens said. Jason Struhs messaged Stevens at 9.56am on 5 January and said “we sit and wait for the amazing miracle that God will perform”. Defendant Camellia Claire Stevens, 28, messaged defendant Alexander Francis Stevens, 26, at 6am on January 6. “Elizabeth doesn’t appear to be breathing but we are all around her praying,” she said. The other defendants are Loretta Mary Stevens, 67, Andrea Louise Stevens, 34, Acacia Naree Stevens, 31, Therese Maria Stevens, 37, Keita Courtney Martin, 22, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 34, Samantha Emily Schoenfisch, 26, and Alexander Francis Stevens, 26. |