Australian Prosecutors Drop 2005 Murder Charge In German Backpacker’s Death

The spouse of a man accused of murdering his German backpacker girlfriend 18 years ago expressed her relief as Australian prosecutors dropped all charges on Wednesday, while the father of the deceased woman described the decision as deeply painful.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions announced the withdrawal of murder and perverting the course of justice charges against Tobias Moran, a 43-year-old German immigrant, in Lismore Local Court in New South Wales. No specific reasons were provided for the withdrawal.

The lifeless body of 25-year-old Simone Strobel from Rieden, Bavaria, was discovered concealed under palm fronds in a park in Lismore on February 17, 2005. She was found six days after being reported missing, close to the area where she had been camping with Moran, his sister Katrin Suckfuell, and friend Jens Martin at a Lismore trailer park. At that time, Moran was known by the name Suckfuell.

Samantha Moran, Tobi Moran’s Australian wife, released a statement outside their upscale residence in City Beach, Perth, expressing her support for the decision. She stated, “It was the right decision,” and added, “Tobi, I, and our entire family are immensely relieved by the decision to withdraw the charges against him.” Samantha Moran, who is also the mother of Moran’s three children, expressed deep shame over the incident, emphasizing that Simone Strobel was described by her husband as an angel on Earth.

Tobi Moran stood silently alongside his wife during the statement, without making any remarks.

Moran was apprehended in Perth in July 2022 and subsequently extradited to New South Wales, where he faced charges of murder and perverting the course of justice. He was granted bail by a Sydney court and allowed to return to Western Australia.

During the bail hearing, prosecutor Kim Gourlie asserted that Tobias Moran had provided false information about “crucial events”, including his relationship with Simone Strobel and their alcohol consumption. However, defense lawyer Tim Game argued that the prosecution’s case was “nonexistent”.

In her statement, Samantha Moran extended her condolences to the Strobel family, especially Gustl and Gabi Strobel, who “continue to suffer terribly from the loss of their daughter.” She acknowledged. “Whilst today’s news is a relief for our family, we are conscious that this news does not give answers to the Strobel family”.

Gustl Strobel expressed his shock and disappointment over the decision to end the prosecution, describing it as “a stab in my heart”.. He expressed his frustration with the Australian authorities, stating “the authorities make such a fuss and then nothing comes of it”.

Samantha Moran emphasized the time since her husband’s arrest had been “highly distressing and emotional for us.” She mentioned “I know that there is not a day that goes by that Tobi doesn’t think about Simone and wishes that he had stopped her from walking away that night.” She added that “Tobi continues to be traumatized by the loss of Simone as well as the speculations surrounding him.”

In 2007, a New South Wales coroner concluded that there was insufficient evidence to recommend charges against anyone for Simone Strobel’s death. In 2020, the police offered a reward of 1 million Australian dollars for any information regarding the case.

Tobias Moran and Simone Strobel arrived in Australia as backpackers in 2004. Moran changed his name from Suckfuell in 2012 when he got married in Bavaria, where Simone Strobel’s parents still reside.

Moran’s legal team will return to court on June 28 to seek reimbursement of their legal costs from the New South Wales government.