Mum on trial for diabetic daughter’s manslaughter believed Covid-19 a sign of ‘last days’ to ‘turn to God’, court told
A mum charged with the manslaughter of her daughter by allegedly withholding her insulin for days believed the world was in the “last days” due to Covid-19 being put out by God for people to “turn to him”.
Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs is among 14 members of a tight-knit church group known as The Saints who are charged over the death of Elizabeth Struhs, 8, in Rangeville in early 2022.
In a recorded interview with police shortly after her child was found dead, Ms Struhs tells officers she had the idea the situation “could go further” and involve authorities so “God could show his hand”.
Camera IconKerrie Elizabeth Struhs and Jason Richard Struhs are among 14 on trial over the death of their eight-year-old daughter Elizabeth (bottom right) in early 2022. Supplied / A Current Affair Credit: Supplied
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She is heard acknowledging she could go to prison if Elizabeth did not wake up, but then says she kept putting her trust in God.
Ms Struhs, 49, goes on to say “these are the last days” due to the Covid-19 pandemic being a “worldwide event”.
Kerrie Struhs and eleven others – including her son Zachary Alan Struhs, 21, are charged with Elizabeth’s manslaughter
Elizabeth’s father Jason Richard Struhs, 52, and the leader of The Saints, 62-year-old Brendan Stevens, are charged with the girl’s murder.
They have all pleaded not guilty.
The Crown contends Elizabeth’s parents and members of the group withheld her lifesaving insulin for several days in order for Jason to prove his new faith in God.
The girl’s condition worsened until she died between January 6-7, 2022 as a result of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Over the course of the mammoth trial the court has heard evidence of The Saints’s hard line beliefs in the healing power of God over conventional medicine and medical intervention.
Camera IconThe Crown contends Elizabeth (pictured) was taken off her insulin for several days before she died from symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis. Supplied Credit: Supplied
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During her recorded interview, which is playing in Brisbane Supreme Court, Kerrie Struhs explains she believes people are “so distracted by medical systems and other things in this world”.
“God is putting it (Covid-19) out there so people have that final opportunity to call out to God,” she tells officers in the recording.
“Because he wants everyone to turn back to him.”
Kerrie also delves into her 2021 conviction for failing to supply Elizabeth with the necessaries of life, after her child almost died back in 2019.
An officer is heard asking her to explain what that means “in her own words”.
“Well, apparently I failed to give her what the world says is the necessaries for a child,” Kerrie replies.
Camera IconThe 14 members of The Saints include Elizabeth’s parents and her older brother, Zachary Alan Struhs. Court Sketch / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia
“Apparently you’ve got to take your child to the hospital when they’re sick – that’s what I get out of it.
“The necessaries a child needs in their life is love, comfort, good food and God.”
She goes on to say she believed she was providing Elizabeth with those necessities and she did not agree “at all” with what the court was saying.
Earlier in the trial, the court heard evidence Kerrie served five months in jail for the charge.
Jason Struhs was baptised into the church in August 2021 while he was struggling to care for his family and manage Elizabeth’s diabetes.
The judge-alone trial continues.
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