A man accused of killing a German backpacker on the New South Wales North Coast more than 18 years ago has had the charges against him dropped.
Key points:
- Tobias Moran, formerly known as Tobias Suckfuell, was arrested in WA last year
- The charges against him were to be certified in court today, but they were withdrawn
- Simone Strobel's death rocked the Lismore community, which has maintained contact with her family
Tobias Moran was arrested last year and charged with murder and perverting the course of justice.
The charges related to the death of Simone Strobel, whose naked body was found covered in palm fronds near a Lismore caravan park in 2005.
The kindergarten teacher was Mr Moran's girlfriend at the time, and the pair had been backpacking with friends along the east coast.
A coronial inquiry in 2007 found the evidence available at that time did not warrant the matter being referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In 2020 a $1-million reward for information about Ms Strobel's death was offered, but police have said it did not yield any useful information.
Police arrested Mr Moran, 43, who was formerly known as Tobias Suckfuell, in Western Australia last July.
He was extradited to NSW, but was later granted bail and allowed to return home.
The charges against him were due to be certified in the Lismore Local Court today, but the court was told the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided not to proceed and the charges were withdrawn.
The matter will be mention again later this month to schedule a hearing to determine costs.
'Great deal of shock'
Jenny Dowell, a Lismore City councillor in 2005 who later went on to become mayor, said Ms Strobel's death shook the community to its core.
"At the time when she went missing and then her body was found … we felt a great deal of shame and a great deal of shock," Ms Dowell said.
"We felt we'd let her down."
Ms Dowell said her first thoughts went to the Strobel family when she heard today's news.
"That leaves the family in a great deal of limbo, and as a result of that out community is left in limbo not knowing what happened and not having an answer," she said.
"It's left us all feeling as if we're up in the air about this.
"I would hope at the very least it's kept as an open case."
Ms Dowell maintained contact with the family, who sent her a postcard featuring one of Ms Strobel's favourite poems.
That poem is now inscribed on a granite bench in a park near the caravan park Ms Strobel was staying at, metres from where her body was found.
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2023-06-14 02:10:19Z
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