Boyfriend of murdered German backpacker Simone Strobel ‘twigged’ efforts by undercover cops to get him to confess after her gruesome death
Police sent undercover officers to elicit a confession from the former boyfriend of backpacker Simone Strobel, but the lead detective on the case believes the then-murder suspect ‘twigged’ to their efforts.
Ms Strobel’s naked body was found hidden under palm fronds at a sportsground in Lismore, in the NSW northern rivers region, in February 2005, six days after she was reported missing.
Her then-boyfriend Tobias Moran, who now lives in Western Australia, was charged with murder in 2022. But prosecutors opted not to proceed and the case was dropped with $190,000 in compensation ordered to be paid.
Detective Sergeant David Mackie on Wednesday told an inquest into Ms Strobel’s death he believed Mr Moran knew police were likely secretly recording him.
After a $1million reward was offered for information in 2020, an undercover officer going by the name of ‘Sophie’ made contact with Mr Moran with an offer for an alibi, the NSW Coroners Court was told.
She told Mr Moran her brother had cancer and was given only two months to live, and he wanted to confess to the murder in order for his family to get the reward money.
But Mr Moran told her the plan would not give peace to Ms Strobel’s family and would leave those responsible still at large, the inquest was told.
‘That wouldn’t be any help to me,’ he said in the recorded conversation.
The body of Simone Strobel (pictured with Mr Moran) was found hidden under palm fronds at a sportsground in Lismore, in the NSW northern rivers region, in February 2005
Ms Strobel’s body was found six days after she was reported missing (the pair are pictured)
On the night of her disappearance, Ms Strobel’s group drank heavily in a hotel and continued to consume alcohol and smoke cannabis after returning to their campground (pictured)
‘It wouldn’t solve the case.’
Det Sgt Mackie said he believed Mr Moran ‘twigged very quickly’ to the ruse.
‘There’s been a number of covert operations conducted,’ he said.
‘It was fairly obvious from some of those recordings that Mr Moran was very aware that conversations were likely to be recorded.’
The inquest heard earlier secret recordings of conversations between Mr Moran and his wife Samantha did not elicit any admissions.
Efforts involving two undercover officers posing as convicts who spoke to Mr Moran following his arrest were also unsuccessful, the court was told.
At the time of her death, Ms Strobel had been touring the east coast of Australia with Mr Moran, his sister Katrin Suckfuell and another German, Jens Martin.
At the time of her death, Ms Strobel (pictured) had been touring the east coast of Australia with Mr Moran, his sister Katrin Suckfuell and another German, Jens Martin
Mr Moran is seen during a police interview in February 2005
Det Sgt Mackie previously told the inquest in his opinion it was ‘probable’ Mr Moran killed Ms Strobel and he also believed Ms Suckfuell and Mr Martin helped dispose of her body.
On the night of the disappearance, Ms Strobel’s group drank heavily in a hotel and continued to consume alcohol and smoke cannabis after returning to their campground, the court was told previously.
The group told police Ms Strobel left their campsite after becoming annoyed with Mr Moran.
‘All three of them said Simone left the caravan park and they never saw her again,’ counsel assisting Philip Strickland SC said.
The group later lied to police about their drug use and how much they had to drink on the night, as well as the depth of the dispute between Ms Strobel and Mr Moran, Mr Strickland said.
The inquest continues.
