The Northern Rivers Times Edition 108

Boyfriend charged with murder of Simone Strobel

The boyfriend of a German backpacker killed in Lismore has been extradited from WA and charged with her murder. Tobias Moran, who changed his surname from Suckfuell, has been extradited from Western Australia and charged with murder following an investigation into the homicide of German backpacker Simone Strobel, in Lismore more than 15 years ago. Simone, aged 25, was last seen at the Lismore Tourist Caravan Park on Friday 11 February 2005, after a night out with her then-boyfriend and friends. Her body was found six days later (Thursday 17 February 2005), concealed under palm fronds at a sportsground less than 100m from the caravan park. At a coronial inquest in 2007, then-State Coroner, Paul McMahon, ruled there was insufficient evidence to lay charges over Simone’s death. Detectives from Richmond Police District established Strike Force Howea in February 2005 to investigate Simone’s murder – with assistance from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, and their counterparts at the Wuerzburg Criminal Police and the Prosecutor´s Office in

ABOVE: Tobias Moran is extradicted to NSW, and below, Moran and murder victim Simone Strobel.

Wuerzburg. In October 2020, the NSW Government announced a $1 million reward for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Simone’s homicide. The Bavarian Office of Criminal Investigation had also announced a 10,000 Euro reward for residents of both Germany and Australia

back in 2014. Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives travelled to Western Australia, where – with assistance from Western Australian Police Force – a 42-year-old man was arrested at a home in Perth. He was taken to the Magistrates Court of Western Australia where detectives applied for,

and were granted, his extradition to NSW. Strike force investigators escorted the man on a flight, which landed at Sydney Domestic Airport about 5.10pm last Wednesday. He was taken to Mascot Police Station and charged with murder and do act with intent to pervert the course of justice. Strike Force Howea

investigators are continuing to work with their international counterparts, with investigations continuing.German police say arrest warrants linked to the alleged murder of backpacker Simone Strobel. Moran, will remain behind bars until at least this week, when he is expected to apply for bail,But NSW Police Superintendent Scott Tanner on Thursday revealed detective shave been in contact with German authorities about two further arrest warrants for persons of interest in Germany.Police intend to charge the pair, named by German police as Jens M and Moran’s sister Katrin S, with being an accessory after the fact to murder and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Jens M’s lawyer said he believed his client didn’t know anything about the investigation.

CLARENCE VALLEY COUNCIL

The Mayoral Minute to not record Rural Fire Service assets on Council’s financial statements received unanimous support. On 7 June the NSW Government reiterated its determination that Rural Fire Service (RFS) assets are the “property” of councils, who must therefore absorb all depreciation costs. Upon receiving a letter from the President of Local Government NSW which referred to the determination as “nothing more than a financial sleight of hand”, Mayor Tiley moved that Council request the NSW Government to acknowledge rural firefighting equipment is controlled by and the property of the RFS. The Mayoral Minute to locate and preserve the various Clarence council honour boards was supported 6-2. The motion requested the discovery of the location and condition of councillor and staff honour boards of former councils in the Clarence Valley, and to canvass suitable locations to house the discovered boards in consultation with local museums, public hall committees and the community. A third Mayoral Minute for Council to take the necessary steps to become a Refugee Welcome Zone was adopted unopposed.