Chilling details about the alleged murder of a German backpacker

Allegations over the death of German backpacker Simone Strobel in 2005 include alarming details involving her then boyfriend.

The former boyfriend of Murdered German backpacker Simone Strobel faces chilling allegations over her death. Picture: Contributed

The former boyfriend of German backpacker Simone Strobel is accused of suffocating her inside a camper van before dumping her body in nearby vegetation.

Tobias Moran was charged last week with killing the 25-year-old school teacher after a night out with friends at the Lismore Tourist Caravan Park on February 11, 2005.

Her body was found six days later, concealed under palm fronds at a sports field, less than 100m from where they were staying.

Police allege Mr Moran – who is now 42 – remained at the caravan park in the days following her disappearance and misled investigators despite knowing full well the location of her body.

German backpacker Simone Strobel was found murdered in Lismore in 2005. Picture: Contributed

Mr Moran was arrested in WA last week and extradited to NSW, where he was charged with murder and doing an act with intent to pervert the course of justice.

He appeared via videolink on Wednesday in Sydney’s Downing Centre local court for a bail release hearing.

His lawyer, Tim Game SC, argued no further evidence had come to light to implicate Mr Moran in Ms Strobel’s death since investigators failed to link him to the crime over a decade ago.

He also said the impact on Mr Moran’s life – which includes a business and growing family back in Perth – would be devastating if he were to remain in custody until a trial could take place.

Tobias Moran was arrested in WA last week and extradited to NSW to stand trial for her murder. Picture: AAP / Supplied by NSW Police

Witnesses reported hearing screams from somewhere in the vicinity of the caravan park in the early morning hours before Ms Strobel’s disappearance.

According to court documents, during the initial investigation Mr Moran lied about the nature of his relationship with Ms Strobel, as well as their use of alcohol and the clothing she was wearing on the night she disappeared.

Mr Moran has always denied any involvement in Ms Strobel’s death.

Mr Game described the suggestion Mr Moran remained at the caravan park along with two alleged accomplices in the days after Ms Strobel disappeared – despite having dumped her body less than 100m away – as “insane”.

Witnesses reported hearing screams in the early hours of the day Ms Strobel disappeared.

In appealing for bail to be granted, Mr Game said his client’s family and business would “collapse” if he were to continue to be remanded in custody while he awaited a trial which may take well over a year to commence.

At the time of his arrest, Mr Moran was living with his two young children and wife Samantha – who is pregnant with their third child – in the exclusive Perth suburb of City Beach.

Prior to returning to Australia after the pair married in 2012, Mr Moran legally changed his surname from Suckfuell.

Mr Game explained this was not a “sneaky” attempt to throw off authorities, but was made by the couple in respect to what they would want their children’s names to be.

The court heard Ms Moran was offering to pay a $200,000 surety and surrender her and her children’s passports to help aid in Mr Moran’s release.

Mr Moran’s wife Samantha, who he married in 2012, is pregnant with the couple’s third child.

As of last week, Superintendent Scott Tanner said NSW Police were talking with German authorities about the arrest warrants for two other people.

“[They have been] persons of interest from the very beginning, and we believe they’ve got information that may be able to assist with the investigation.”

A $1m reward was offered by the NSW Government in 2020 for information which led to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for the homicide of Ms Strobel.

It followed a 10,000 Euro reward being offered in 2014 for residents of Germany and Australia by the Bavarian Office of Criminal Investigation.

Ms Strobel in Nimbin. Her family in Germany is said to still be ‘very distressed’ by her unsolved death. Picture: Contributed

Superintendent Scott Tanner said Ms Strobel‘s family in Germany is still “very distressed” by the mystery surrounding her death, but were relieved by the latest developments’ potential to shed light on what happened.

“She was on the adventure of a lifetime in a foreign country and they never got to say their goodbyes,” he said.

A decision is expected to be made regarding Mr Moran’s bail application on Thursday.