The older sister of a Queensland girl allegedly murdered by her parents and their extremist religious group has begun giving evidence at their trial.
She told the court that during her childhood she never went to the doctor, except when her father took her to get vaccinated.
“The view has always been that God created us so that he could heal us, not rely on medicine, everything was natural, but we prayed to God to heal us,” Jade Strohs told the Supreme Court in Brisbane on Monday.
Elizabeth Strohes pictured with her older sister Jade.credit: Nine News
Jade’s younger sister, Elizabeth Strohs, an eight-year-old type 1 diabetic, died in January 2022 at her home in Toowoomba, after being denied insulin.
Her body was allegedly left on a mattress on the floor for 36 hours while the group sang and prayed around her.
Her parents, Jason Richard Strohes and Keri Elizabeth Strohes, along with 12 others from their religious group, who call themselves “the Saints,” face a trial expected to last three months.
Saints Members and the Charges Against Them
- Jason Richard Strohes, 52, Elizabeth’s father – Murder charge
- Brendan Luke Stevens, 62, leader of the group – murder charge
- Kerry Elizabeth Strohs, 49, Elizabeth’s mother – Involuntary Manslaughter Charge
- Zachary Alan Strohes, 21, Elizabeth’s brother – Involuntary Manslaughter Charge
- Loretta Marie Stevens, 67 – Involuntary Manslaughter Charge
- Therese Maria Stevens, 37 – Involuntary Manslaughter Charge
- Andrea Louise Stevens, 34 – Involuntary Manslaughter Charge
- Acacia Nari Stevens, 31 – Involuntary Manslaughter Charge
- Camilla Claire Stevens, 28 – Involuntary Manslaughter Charge
- Alexander Francis Stevens, 26 – Involuntary Manslaughter Charge
- Sebastian James Stevens, 23 – Involuntary Manslaughter Charge
- Keita Courtney Martin, 22 – Involuntary Manslaughter Charge
- Lachlan Stewart Shonnfish, 34 – Manslaughter Charge
- Samantha Emily Shonnfish, 26 – Involuntary Manslaughter Charge
Jade, who left the family when she was 16, before the girl’s death, told the court she met Saints leader Brendan Luke-Stevens on her first day at school, when her mother started talking to the Stevens family.
Jade said her mother took an interest in their religious beliefs, and eventually began taking her to meetings at the Stevens’ home.
