The leader of a religious group charged with the murder of an eight-year-old girl this year has been ordered to stand trial over a separate incident that nearly killed her three years ago.
At a hearing in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Brendan Luke Stevens, 60, was today committed to stand trial in the District Court with failure to provide the necessaries of life for Elizabeth Struhs after she became severely ill with undiagnosed type 1 diabetes in July 2019.
The court heard Mr Stevens was considered to be "closer than any blood relations" by Elizabeth's mother Kerrie Struhs who had known him and his family for more than 17 years.
Mrs Struhs was convicted and imprisoned for failure to provide the necessaries of life to Elizabeth in 2019 and was released the month before her daughter's death in January 2022.
Fourteen members of a religious group led by Mr Stevens have been committed to stand trial for the child's murder.
'Near-death' experience
The court heart that in July 2019, Elizabeth's father, Jason Struhs, who was not part of the religious group at the time, found his daughter unresponsive and took her to hospital.
According to a medical report, Elizabeth was suffering from severe diabetic ketoacidosis, dehydration, shock, cerebral edema and severe malnourishment.
Magistrate Louise Shephard told the court that Elizabeth was "near death" and required "extensive and ongoing resuscitation".
Elizabeth had a breathing tube inserted and was in intensive care for five days and hospitalised for several weeks.
'Closer than any blood relations'
The court heard that Mrs Struhs had raised all her children within the religious group run by Mr Stevens and his family were considered "closer than any blood relations".
The group, known as "the Church", met three times a week at Mr Stevens' home.
Magistrate Shephard told the court that before Elizabeth was taken to hospital in 2019, Mrs Struhs sent a text message to Mr Stevens asking for more prayers.
Mr Stevens replied and said they were praying and Elizabeth was healed.
"I see Elizabeth turning to you [Mrs Struhs] and saying, 'I'm getting better now mummy' and then she will say to Dad 'I was very sick, but God healed me'."
One day before Mr Struhs took Elizabeth to hospital, Mrs Struhs messaged Mr Stevens and said, "I have been holding it all together, but now I have lost it".
When Mrs Struhs told Mr Stevens of Elizabeth's condition and diagnosis she said in a text message "but that's no concern to God".
Mr Stevens replied, "we'll keep the faith, we cannot control what man does Kerrie, but God knows all and says all and we keep our trust in Him".
When asked by Magistrate Shephard on Wednesday via videolink if he wanted to say anything to the court, Mr Stevens declined and did not enter a plea.
All members committed
Elizabeth's parents Jason and Kerrie Struhs were committed to stand trial for the murder of Elizabeth Struhs in the Supreme Court earlier this year.
Samantha Emily Schoenfisch (nee Crouch), 24; Keita Courtney Martin, 20; Loretta Mary Stevens, 65; Andrea Louis Stevens, 31; Therese Maria Stevens, 35; Acacia Maree Stevens, 29; Sebastian James Stevens, 21; Alexander Francis Stevens, 24; Zachary Alan Struhs, 19; and Camellia Claire Stevens, 26, have also been ordered to stand trial for murder.
