Kate Coxall
28 July 2022, 6:02 AM
German backpacker, 25-year-old Simone Strobel's death shocked the Lismore community 17 years ago, when her body was discovered only 100m away from the Lismore Caravan Park, 6 days after last being seen following a night out with her boyfriend, in the adjoining Sportsground, naked and hidden under palm fronds.
Yesterday, Tobias Friedrich Moran was charged with Simone Strobel's murder. He was her boyfriend at the time.
Moran, who had been travelling around the country with Simone, along with his Sister and their friend, "have all been persons of interest from the beginning" said Superintendent Scott Tanner today as he and Deputy Premier Paul Toole spoke in Lismore about this development in what has been a long journey for Detective Dave Mackie and the Richmond Police District detectives working on the case.
Superintendent Tanner, unable to answer all questions, given the matter is now before the courts, including whether this murder had been premeditated, was able to confirm that forensic evidence advancements will be used as a tool in presenting the evidence to convict Tobias Friedrich Moran, formerly Tobias Sulkfell, with her Murder.
Tanner did confirm that whilst Moran had been a suspect and maintained a person of interest for the time this case has remained unsolved, he had given false information to NSW Police, who worked with the State Homicide Squad, Western Australia Police and detectives in Germany to bring justice to the family of Simone this week.
"There are still two key people of interest to this case, that police are appealing to come forward. We know who they are, and where they are and we are working to bring them in. We believe they have information to assist with the investigation." Superintendent Tanner said.
There is still a $1,000,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and solving of this case, and this was not utilised to make this arrest. Detectives, including Detective Mackie, who was the leadofficer and had been on this case from the very beginning, arrested Mr Moran at 6:30am from his place of residence, he came to the door and was met by our officers, who then brought him from Perth to Sydney to be charged" (Extradited man charged with the murder of Simone Strobel)
Mr Moran was charged and refused bail at The Downing Centre.
There is no suspicion that drugs were involved on the evening of Simone's murder and Superintendent Tanner said that Simone's family received the news, and "were very distressed by the events but there was a sense of relief with the latest developments as not knowing what had happened for all this time had been very challenging".
"Simone was on an adventure of a lifetime in a foreign country and they never got to say their goodbyes. We are in close contact with them as things develop".
Deputy Premier Paul Toole stated, "This murder has been something the [Lismore] Community has been wanting answers to for a number of years".