The older sister of an eight-year-old Toowoomba girl, who died as a result of their parents’ religious beliefs, has given evidence against them in court. She joined several other family members of people involved in the case who testified at their murder and manslaughter trial.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00Jade Strews left her parents' home as a teen, believing it was no longer safe.
00:07Several years later, her little sister died in their care.
00:11Jason and Kerry Strews are accused of causing the death of Elizabeth Strews in Toowoomba
00:16in January 2022.
00:18She died of ketoacidosis just days after her insulin was withdrawn.
00:23The couple and 12 others, who form part of their home-based church, are on trial for
00:27manslaughter and murder.
00:29Ms Strews took the witness stand today and testified about growing up in the strict religious
00:34group and detailed the hard-line beliefs they held about rejecting medicine.
00:39The view was and always has been, God created us and he can heal us.
00:44If anyone was ill or hurt themselves, that was the first thing we would hear, let's pray.
00:50She told the court at age 16 she was outcast by her mother and the alleged leader of the
00:54congregation, Brendan Stevens, due to her sexuality.
00:58But after moving in with a friend, she remained in contact with her father, who wasn't part
01:03of the church.
01:04When her little sister was diagnosed with diabetes in 2019, she said Mr Strews promised
01:10to protect his younger child from his wife's dangerous religious views.
01:14But prosecutors allege after Mrs Strews was sent to jail in 2021 for failing to provide
01:19her daughter with the necessities of life, the other church members broke him, successfully
01:24converting him to their faith before convincing him to stop Elizabeth's medication.
01:29A coronial counsellor also gave evidence.
01:32She told the court she spoke with Mr Strews after Elizabeth's autopsy about burial plans.
01:37He told her he didn't believe in funerals.
01:40He said Elizabeth was with God now and he wouldn't be burying a bag of bones.
01:46Family members of other people in the church also gave evidence, with some describing the
01:50group as a cult.
01:51They told the court their sons' and daughters' views became more extreme after joining, including
01:56refusing to get their own children medical care.
01:59The trial being held in Brisbane continues.