A father accused of homicide was seen by his pal as a “damaged man” torn between giving his daughter life-saving medicine and his household’s beliefs in opposition to medication, a decide has heard.
Barnes mentioned Jason Struhs had been topic to “fixed non secular push by others within the household” in 2021 to affix their small Christian congregation and undertake their perception that God may treatment all sickness, together with Elizabeth’s type-1 diabetes.
“He was a damaged man. He beloved his household a lot. He wished to maintain his household collectively,” Barnes mentioned.
Barnes mentioned Jason Struhs for years beforehand had not believed in faith and refused to affix his household’s church, describing it as “garbage”.
“[Jason Struhs] advised Elizabeth he would take care of her till she was 16. It tore him aside,” Barnes mentioned.
Barnes mentioned Jason Struhs agreed to be baptised into the group, referred to by others as “The Saints”, in late 2021 whereas his spouse Kerrie Struhs, 49, was serving a five-month jail time period.
Kerrie Struhs was convicted of failing to offer the requirements of life to Elizabeth in 2019 when she suffered excessive diabetic shock, and is now charged along with her manslaughter.
Brendan Luke Stevens, the 62-year-old chief of “The Saints”, is on trial for homicide together with Jason Struhs, and 11 members of the congregation are charged with manslaughter.
Monday was the ninth day of a judge-only trial for all 14 defendants, who’re self-represented and have refused to enter pleas.
Barnes mentioned Jason Struhs turned “relaxed” and completely happy after becoming a member of the church, in distinction to when he had been lowered to tears over his disagreements with Kerrie Struhs and his 21-year-old son Zachary Alan Struhs, who can also be charged with manslaughter.
Barnes mentioned his final communication with Jason Struhs was a textual content message he acquired on January 8, 2022, telling him he was taking break day work as his state of affairs was “not good in the mean time”.
In accordance with a timeline of alleged occasions from crown prosecutor Caroline Marco, this message was despatched by Jason Struhs about 33 hours after he found Elizabeth had died.
Barnes was cross-examined by Jason Struhs, who appeared to pause with emotion when he requested if the pair had been finest buddies.
“Do you consider I’d ever damage my daughter on function?” Jason Struhs requested.
Parole and probation companies officer Maria Bidgood testified that she met with Kerrie Struhs quickly after she was launched from jail in December 2021.
“We talked concerning the prospect of reoffending. Her opinion was she would do the identical once more … she mentioned ‘I’d make the identical choice once more however I’d not cease some other particular person interfering’,” Bidgood mentioned.
Jason Struhs’ pal and golf companion of 20 years, Anthony Howe, additionally gave proof and mentioned he spoke to Zachary Struhs after Elizabeth had died, in January 2022.
“I requested Zachary what occurred. He mentioned Jason had discovered God and so they do not consider in medication to maintain folks alive. He mentioned ‘all of us determined to take her off medicine’,” Howe mentioned.
Howe mentioned he was left “upset” by what Zachary Struhs advised him.
“I used to be dumbfounded to listen to that. I advised him you do not have the best to resolve to take somebody’s life. God will resolve,” Howe mentioned.
The opposite defendants are Loretta Mary Stevens, 67, Andrea Louise Stevens, 34, Acacia Naree Stevens, 31, Camellia Claire Stevens, 28, Therese Maria Stevens, 37 Keita Courtney Martin, 22, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch, 34, Samantha Emily Crouch, 26, Sebastian James Stevens, 23, and Alexander Francis Stevens, 26.
