Police Criticized for Handling of Simone Strobel Murder Investigation

NSW Police have been criticized for not adequately investigating multiple persons of interest in the unsolved 2005 killing of German tourist Simone Strobel. The senior barrister who acted as counsel assisting at the most recent coronial inquest into her death said police focused too heavily on one main suspect, Tobias Moran, formerly Tobias Suckfuell.

Investigation Lacking in Some Areas

Philip Strickland SC said police were right to thoroughly investigate Ms Strobel's boyfriend, Mr Moran, but should have done more to investigate other persons of interest in the case. "There's no doubt the police put in a very big effort, and they genuinely wanted to find who killed Simone Strobel, and I think they did a lot of good work," he said.

"However, I do think that there wasn't adequate attention given to other suspects. In particular, there was inadequate attention given to try to match hair samples or other forensic evidence with some of the suspects."

Mr Strickland said his views on the case were his own and he was not speaking on behalf of the NSW state coroner, Teresa O'Sullivan, who oversaw the 2024 inquest. He said it was his opinion that police should have promptly obtained DNA samples from other persons of interest to compare with forensic evidence from the crime scene.

DNA Testing Delays

One of the persons of interest, a man who allegedly said he killed Ms Strobel and had a violent criminal record, was not DNA tested for seven years after the crime. Another, who had also allegedly confessed to killing Ms Strobel, was not asked to provide a DNA sample until 2024.

"There were other people who were unsavoury characters who had criminal records, serious criminal records for … violence who were very close to where … her body was found," Mr Strickland said. "And those people, although there was some investigation into their whereabouts, I don't think it was an adequate investigation at the time."

Police Response

Asked to respond to Mr Strickland's concerns, NSW Police referred to an earlier statement provided in response to questions. "The matter is currently being assessed by the Unsolved Homicide Unit, and a forensic review is being conducted in line with the coroner's recommendations," it said.

The forensic exhibits include an unknown male DNA profile found on a black top, which was the only item of Ms Strobel's clothing that was recovered. They also include yellow and blue fibres, believed to be from items of clothing, found on a fence near where Ms Strobel's body was found.

Call for Information

Mr Strickland urged anyone with information about Ms Strobel's death to contact police so Ms Strobel's family could get the answers they deserved.