A second inquest into the 2005 murder of Simone Strobel in Lismore is scheduled to hear evidence until the end of the week.
German backpacker Simone Strobel was staying at the Tourist Caravan Park in Lismore with her then boyfriend Tobias Moran (previously Suckfuell, he changed his name when he married), his sister Katrin Suckfuell and their friend Jens Martin.
Ms Strobel had last been seen at the Caravan Park on Friday 11 February 2005, after a night out with her then-boyfriend and friends,’ said the NSW Police in a media release at the time.
Her body was found six days later on 17 February, 2005 covered by ‘palm fronds on a sports ground about 90 metres from’ the Tourist Caravan Park where she had been staying with Mr Moran.
Mr Moran was accused of her murder and in July, 2022 he was extradited from Western Australia and charged with her murder following a $1 million reward for information that led to a further investigation into Simone’s suspected murder. However, the charges were dropped by the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
According to the ABC ‘A second inquest began on Monday after the coroner in the initial 2007 one was not satisfied the matter could be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.’
Derailed investigation over ‘lies’
It is alleged that Mr Moran lied to police about an argument they had before her disappearance, ‘derailing’ the investigation into her unresolved death almost 20 years ago, the new inquest has heard.
‘A coronial inquest in 2007 found that despite the “very strong suspicion that Tobias Suckfuell and maybe Katrin Suckfuell were involved in the circumstances that led to Simone’s death”, the coroner was not satisfied the evidence available at the time met the requirements to refer the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions,’ reported the ABC.
‘Mr Moran has previously denied any involvement in Ms Strobel’s death and since then no-one has been charged over the matter.
‘Nearly two decades after her body was first discovered, a second inquest began on Monday after “significant evidence” was provided to the coroner that wasn’t available during the 2007 inquest.
‘Mr Moran was in court for the first day of the inquest.
‘Counsel assisting, Philip Strickland SC, told the inquest that evidence included new persons of interest, witnesses, forensic evidence and medical evidence.
‘Mr Strickland also said that despite a finding in 2007 that there was no evidence Ms Strobel was sexually assaulted, the advanced decomposition of her remains meant the coroner “cannot rule out that there was some sexual motivation for the offence”.’
Mr Strickland read out experts from Ms Strobel’s diary that described their relationship breaking down and showed CCTV footage of them arguing when they were kicked out of a Lismore hotel for being too intoxicated.
‘The inquest heard they later returned to the caravan park where some neighbours described hearing a “screaming” argument between a man and a woman, before Ms Strobel left the caravan park on foot later in the evening,’ reported the ABC.
‘Counsel assisting said a witness heard Mr Moran call Ms Strobel a “silly cow” and used the German word for “slut” in what was described as an argument about trying to enjoy the holiday.
‘However, Mr Strickland reiterated that there was “insignificant evidence to support that the screaming was Simone”, and Mr Moran denied having a vocal screaming match with her.
‘Mr Strickland told the coroner Jens Martin and Katrine Suckfuell claimed to search for Ms Strobel, and when she couldn’t be found hours later, Mr Moran and Mr Martin reported her missing to police.
‘Mr Strickland said there was no doubt Mr Moran initially “understated” the fight between him and Ms Strobel, and how much alcohol he had consumed on the night.
‘Mr Strickland said it will be up to the coroner to determine whether Mr Moran’s “lies” were a mistake or deliberate in hindering the investigation. “If it was Tobias Moran’s intention to make police treat her disappearance seriously, and in fact assist an investigation by police – his lies had almost completely the opposite effect,” Mr Strickland said “His lies assisted in derailing the initial part of the investigation.”
‘But Mr Strickland told the inquest that evidence given by Mr Martin during the 2007 inquest also raised serious doubt over the suggestion that Mr Moran was solely responsible for Ms Strobel’s death. “If Tobias killed Simone and did it alone, he had a very narrow window in which to leave the caravan park, find Simone, kill her, take off her clothes, dispose of her body… again assuming Jens Martin is to believed,” he said. “[Mr Moran] would have had to have done so knowing his friend and his sister were searching in the same area for Simone. “If Tobias was involved … it seems the most plausible route is both Katrine and Jens Martin were also involved.”
‘Both Mr Martin and Ms Suckfuell have previously denied any involvement in the 25-year-old’s death,’ reported the ABC.
‘Mr Strickland also noted that unlike the rules in place during the first inquest, the coroner “must not indicate or suggest that an offence was committed by any person”.
‘Later in the day, Mr Strickland revealed that Ms Strobel’s body was located at a “known criminal hotspot” with “unsavoury” locals known to drink in the area.
‘He said some of the new persons of interest had allegedly confessed to killing her, including one man who was previously known to police.’
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