Simone Strobel NSW north coast murder: charges against Tobias Moran dropped by NSW DPP
Shocking twist as charges against man accused of murdering a German backpacker 18 years ago are dropped
- Tobias Moran was arrested last year, but is now on the loose
- Was accused of murdering German backpacker Simone Strobel
- The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to proceed
The charges against a man charged more than 18 years ago with the murder of a German backpacker on the north coast of New South Wales have been dropped.
Tobias Moran was charged with murdering backpacker Simone Strobel and perverting the course of justice in July 2022.
Ms Strobel’s naked body was found covered in palm leaves in 2005 near a caravan park in Lismore.
At the time of her disappearance, the German national was Mr Moran’s girlfriend and was traveling with him along the east coast of Australia.
Moran has always denied any role in the kindergarten teacher’s death.
Ms Strobel’s naked body was found covered in palm leaves in 2005 near a caravan park in Lismore. Tobias Moran was charged with murder in July 2022, but the charges have now been dropped.
Tobias Moran was charged with murdering backpacker Simone Strobel and perverting the course of justice in July 2022
Moran was extradited to NSW from Western Australia last year and later granted bail.
The NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has dropped the charges as they were due to be certified today by the Lismore local court.
The case will now be called again later in June pending a decision on the legal costs of the case.
Mrs. Strobel was last seen at the Lismore Tourist Caravan Park on 11 February 2005, after a night out with Moran and some other friends.
Her body was discovered six days later less than 100 meters from the caravan park, hidden under palm fronds.
A 2007 coroner’s inquest found there wasn’t enough evidence to refer the case to the DPP to build a case, until Moran’s shock arrest last year.