Simone Strobel inquest: Coroner’s Court to determine the lies surrounding backpacker’s 2005 death in Lismore

In the 20 years since the naked body of a young German backpacker was found under palm fronds on a NSW North Coast bocce court, a lot of lies have been told.

But an extraordinary inquest which began Monday into the murder of 25-year-old Simone Strobel has now tasked a coroner to rule which lies were a conscious attempt to conceal a crime or a cry for help.

At the centre of the volume of lies is Ms Strobel’s then-boyfriend Tobias Moran, who travelled from his home in Perth with his wife Sam to listen to the inquest into Ms Strobel’s death in Lismore in February 2005.

Lidcombe Coroner’s Court in Sydney heard he had made numerous inconsistent stories some of which have since been found to be lies.

It is the second time an inquest has been heard into Ms Strobel’s death with the court hearing Monday there had been a “significant body of evidence” not available during the first hearing in 2007.

That includes DNA techniques which were still being conducted as late as a fortnight ago as well as what the coroner’s court has heard includes an array of lies, brags and inconsistencies that now need a determination.

Philip Strickland SC, outlining the case for presiding NSW State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan, told the court it had to determine what were the lies, and their significance, from an array of potential suspects and witnesses.

The alleged lies include various statements provided by Mr Moran after her death and again after her body was found, to both Australian and German police, as well as by his sister Katrin Suckfuell and friend Jens Martin who were travelling with the pair when the murder occurred.

But then there are others, including those from colourful Lismore locals - at least two of whom “confessed” to friends they had been responsible for killing her.

Ms Strobel and her boyfriend, then known as Tobias Suckfuell, had been on a year-long Aussie road trip adventure in February 2005 when they were joined by Ms Suckfuell and Mr Martin and stopped off at Lismore Caravan Park.

The four went out drinking at the local pubs and were intoxicated enough to be refused service and asked to leave one establishment. Returning to the park, Ms Strobel had a verbal argument with her partner. What followed next is in contention.

Her body was found six days later, naked and loosely covered with palm fronds on a disused bocce and tennis centre. She was in such a state of decomposition the court heard for the first time that a sexual assault could not be ruled out.

Her diary detailed how the trip had gone sour in recent days to the morning of her death. There was evidence they fought that night but Mr Moran, his sister and Mr Martin lied or lessened the severity of the fracture, how much they all had to drink, about smoking cannabis and, critically, the direction Ms Strobel apparently stormed off in on the last time she was seen alive.

Mr Moran, who said he had nothing to do with her death, also told Ms Strobel’s parents they had not been quarrelling and were not drinking heavily. Mr Moran later told police he lied because he did not think they were taking him seriously about her disappearance. Mr Martin later told police he was told what to say by Mr Moran.

The court heard evidence there was no way Ms Strobel’s body could have been disposed of the way it was found by just one person and it was likely two or more people were involved. The bocce court was in a known Lismore criminal hotspot where “unsavoury” locals drank.

Mr Moran was in court on Monday with his lawyer wife and her parents.

Speaking outside court, Ms Strobel’s brother and sister Alexander and Christina - who had travelled from Germany for the hearing - said lies were a theme around their loved one’s death.

“Today we heard in court by counsel assisting the coroner that Tobias Moran lied consistently to police and our family about circumstances around my sister’s murder. We are very hopeful during the course of this inquest we will find out why so many lies were told and what is the truth about my sister’s death.’’

Chistina added: “My sister basically raised me to have a very close bond and she was violently taken from me, she was a lovely person who loved life. She was looking forward to her adventure to Australia and is dearly missed by her family and friends.”

The hearing continues.