Religious group leader believed God would save Elizabeth Struhs | ABC News

The self-proclaimed leader of a religious group accused of causing the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs has told a court the case against them is "religious persecution" and that the defendants don't care what judgement is delivered.

Elizabeth, a type 1 diabetic, died in her Toowoomba home between January 6 and January 7, 2022, after her insulin was withheld.

Two members of the group – Elizabeth's father Jason Richard Struhs and the religious group's leader Brendan Luke Stevens – are charged with murder while 12 others, including Elizabeth's mother Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs and older brother Zachary Alan Struhs, are charged with manslaughter.

"We don't come to fight the charge because the charge is one that is completely contrary to God and we have no intention of fighting the law," 62-year-old Mr Stevens told the Supreme Court in Brisbane on Friday.

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