A mother accused of killing her daughter told police she "did a lot of praying" when the eight-year-old stopped breathing after six days without her diabetes medication, a judge has heard.
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Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs, 49, refused to enter a plea to the charge of manslaughter over the death of her daughter Elizabeth Rose Struhs on January 7, 2022.
Elizabeth died while lying on a mattress on the floor of her family's home in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, after days of suffering from a lack of insulin with symptoms of vomiting, unquenchable thirst, incontinence and loss of consciousness.
Detective Acting Sergeant Melissah Rose told a judge-only trial she responded to a report of a sudden death of a child on January 8, 2022.
During an interview out front of the family home, Det Rose recorded Kerrie Stuhs telling her Elizabeth's father "experienced the power of God" and decided to stop giving her insulin.
"There wasn't really any discussion. We just felt at peace. He told us that's what he wanted to do," Struhs said.
Justice Martin Burns previously heard medical evidence that without insulin, Elizabeth's blood glucose levels kept rising but she had no way of absorbing the energy, causing her body to consume fat cells and change its chemistry in ways that damaged her organs and brain.
Kerrie Struhs said Elizabeth had been "excited" by the decision and at times had been sick and tired but other times perfectly healthy from the day after her insulin was cut off on January 3.
Elizabeth's father, Jason Richard Struhs, 52 and Brendan Luke Stevens, the 62-year-old leader of a small Christian group called "The Saints", are charged with the girl's murder.
The Saints' 11 other members allegedly present when Elizabeth died are charged with manslaughter.
Stevens previously told Justice Burns he and the other defendants had a reasonable religious belief God would cure Elizabeth's diabetes.
Kerrie Struhs sat in court on Thursday listening to her own interview at times with her eyes closed and with her hands clasped together on her chest.
In the recording, Det Rose asked Kerrie Struhs what happened after another person told her Elizabeth had stopped breathing.
"I can't tell you exactly. Some people got food, those who needed to eat. There were tears of course. I did a lot of praying," Kerrie Struhs said.
She said police or a judge "probably" told her Elizabeth needed insulin to live after she was jailed for five months in 2021 for failing to seek treatment for her daughter's then-undiagnosed diabetes, which led to a near-fatal coma.
"The way she came out if it was a miracle. She was perfect, very happy," Kerrie Struhs said.
All 14 defendants are self-represented and have refused to enter pleas.
Australian Associated Press
