Fourteen non secular group members charged over the demise of an eight-year-old lady stay behind bars as they proceed to refuse authorized illustration.
The six males and eight ladies appeared earlier than the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday for a case evaluation.
Elizabeth Struhs died on the household dwelling in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, on January 7 final yr after her mother and father and 12 others allegedly withheld her diabetes medicine for six days.
Instead they prayed subsequent to her and didn’t alert authorities because the lady’s well being deteriorated, police say.
Elizabeth’s physique was discovered within the Rangeville dwelling on January 8.
Her father 51-year-old Jason Richard Struhs and Brendan Luke Stevens, 61, had been indicted on a cost of homicide throughout a earlier court docket look.
The different 12 – together with the kid’s 48-year-old mom Kerrie Elizabeth Struhs – had been indicted on a manslaughter cost.
The different accused are Zachary Alan Struhs, Loretta Mary Stevens, Therese Maria Stevens, Andrea Louise Stevens, Acacia Naree Stevens, Camellia Claire Stevens, Alexander Francis Stevens, Sebastian James Stevens, Keita Courtney Martin, Lachlan Stuart Schoenfisch and Samantha Emily Schoenfisch.
The youngest is 20 years previous whereas the eldest is 66.
The ladies sat collectively within the dock on Friday, whereas the boys sat amongst corrective companies officers within the jury field.
After the court docket proceedings, they chatted to at least one one other, most smiling and showing to be in excessive spirits.
In response to questions from allotted trial decide Justice Martin Burns as as to whether the accused needed to use for authorized help or bail, some softly mentioned “no” whereas others shook their heads.
Another decide had beforehand spoken at size about their rights, Justice Burns mentioned.
He requested crown prosecutor Todd Fuller KC to present every accused a one-page doc with numbers for Legal Aid, the court docket and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in case they wanted to make contact.
Prosecutors have given the group particulars of the costs, however will present a extra complete doc and are required to reveal all materials they intend to depend on throughout the trial.
“We need to get to the point where full disclosure has been made as quickly as possible,” Justice Burns instructed Mr Fuller.
Corrective companies have been requested to allow the group to speak with each other to organize for the trial.
When Justice Burns requested how lengthy the accused had been in custody, Jason Struhs mentioned: “I can tell Your Honour … I’ve been in custody for … two days short of 16 months.”
His spouse was arrested on the identical day, whereas the others have been behind bars since July final yr.
“We have to move as quickly as we can, Mr Fuller,” Justice Burns mentioned.
Whether the trial can be held in Brisbane or Toowoomba, and earlier than a jury or decide solely, can be mentioned later, he mentioned.
Another case evaluation is anticipated on June 16.
Source: www.9news.com.au
