From the Brisbane Times in 2007
amp.brisbanetimes.com.au
Current The murder of Simone Strobel - Lismore NSW
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stormbird
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Charges dropped against man accused of 2005 murder of backpacker Simone Strobel, ABC News, 14 June 2023
"Police arrested [TB], 43, who was formerly known as [TS], in Western Australia last July.
He was extradited to NSW, but was later granted bail and allowed to return home.
The charges against him were due to be certified in the Lismore Local Court today, but the court was told the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided not to proceed and the charges were withdrawn."
"Police arrested [TB], 43, who was formerly known as [TS], in Western Australia last July.
He was extradited to NSW, but was later granted bail and allowed to return home.
The charges against him were due to be certified in the Lismore Local Court today, but the court was told the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided not to proceed and the charges were withdrawn."
BFew
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Murder and attempting to pervert the course of justice charges against Tobias Moran have been dropped by the NSW DPP.
www.smh.com.au
'In a statement, a spokesperson for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said: “The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions has declined to certify charges of murder and attempting to pervert the course of justice in the case of Tobias Moran.”
“The ODPP notes the possibility of future coronial proceedings and makes no further comment,” the spokesperson said.'
'Moran’s case was adjourned to June 28 for a defence application regarding costs.'
'A $1 million reward for information was announced in 2020.'
Charges dropped against man accused of murdering backpacker girlfriend
Tobias Moran, who was accused of killing German backpacker Simone Strobel on the NSW North Coast in 2005, has had charges against him withdrawn.
'Charges dropped against man accused of murdering backpacker girlfriend'
'June 14, 2023 — 11.34am''In a statement, a spokesperson for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said: “The NSW Director of Public Prosecutions has declined to certify charges of murder and attempting to pervert the course of justice in the case of Tobias Moran.”
“The ODPP notes the possibility of future coronial proceedings and makes no further comment,” the spokesperson said.'
'Moran’s case was adjourned to June 28 for a defence application regarding costs.'
'A $1 million reward for information was announced in 2020.'
stormbird
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From the Daily Telegraph, 07 June 2023 (Tobias Moran charged with murder of Simone Strobel, but case no closer to completion - published before the charges were withdrawn on 14 June; and it's paywalled, sorry):
'In mid-March [2023], the defence moved for charges to be dismissed after the prosecution was ordered to serve some 3000 pages in evidence – which could bring the cold case one step closer to trial.
On Monday [05 June 2023], the case was mentioned in Lismore Local Court, where the 3000 or so pages were due.
But the court heard the evidence was inaccessible, among other issues.
Magistrate Michael Dakin sifted through three large packets of sealed documents from the Crown, unable to proceed.
"What’s the point of being back in court as far back as February for a return of subpoena?" he asked.
The prosecution has been in negotiations with the Police Commissioner Karen Webb to produce the evidence, the court heard.
"This is a dribs and drabs production," Mr Dakin said.
It was established the case could not proceed in its current state and the dialogue appeared tense.
Mr Dakin said: "This is becoming unmanageable."
He adjourned the case again - this time to June 14 [2023].'
Re this part: "The prosecution has been in negotiations with the Police Commissioner Karen Webb to produce the evidence, the court heard."
Does anybody know what that means? Is it normal for the prosecution to be negotiating with a Police Commissioner? Or is it just an expression that's not meant to be taken literally? Thanks.
Edit 6:50 pm: Fixed the link, I hope.
'In mid-March [2023], the defence moved for charges to be dismissed after the prosecution was ordered to serve some 3000 pages in evidence – which could bring the cold case one step closer to trial.
On Monday [05 June 2023], the case was mentioned in Lismore Local Court, where the 3000 or so pages were due.
But the court heard the evidence was inaccessible, among other issues.
Magistrate Michael Dakin sifted through three large packets of sealed documents from the Crown, unable to proceed.
"What’s the point of being back in court as far back as February for a return of subpoena?" he asked.
The prosecution has been in negotiations with the Police Commissioner Karen Webb to produce the evidence, the court heard.
"This is a dribs and drabs production," Mr Dakin said.
It was established the case could not proceed in its current state and the dialogue appeared tense.
Mr Dakin said: "This is becoming unmanageable."
He adjourned the case again - this time to June 14 [2023].'
Re this part: "The prosecution has been in negotiations with the Police Commissioner Karen Webb to produce the evidence, the court heard."
Does anybody know what that means? Is it normal for the prosecution to be negotiating with a Police Commissioner? Or is it just an expression that's not meant to be taken literally? Thanks.
Edit 6:50 pm: Fixed the link, I hope.
Last edited:
BFew
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The Daily Telegraph also reported that the case was a circumstantial one.
p14, June 15, 2023
stormbird
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Prosecutors to pay Tobias Moran $190,000 after backpacker murder charge dropped
'Moran, 43, was arrested at his Perth home last year and extradited to NSW.
However, in June, the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions declined to certify charges against Moran of murder and attempting to pervert the course of justice, and they were withdrawn and dismissed.
...
As a result of a defence application for legal costs, heard before magistrate Philip Stewart in Lismore Local Court on Wednesday [11 Oct 2023], the DPP was "ordered to pay costs in the amount of $190,000.00 to Tobias Friedrich Moran on or before 8 November 2023".'
'Moran, 43, was arrested at his Perth home last year and extradited to NSW.
However, in June, the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions declined to certify charges against Moran of murder and attempting to pervert the course of justice, and they were withdrawn and dismissed.
...
As a result of a defence application for legal costs, heard before magistrate Philip Stewart in Lismore Local Court on Wednesday [11 Oct 2023], the DPP was "ordered to pay costs in the amount of $190,000.00 to Tobias Friedrich Moran on or before 8 November 2023".'
stormbird
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Does anybody know why it's the DPP being ordered to pay the costs, not the police?
Hammeroid
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Well the state pays the cost. Which controls both the DPP and the police.....doesnt really matter who pays it will comes from the tax payers.
stormbird
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Hammeroid, you're probably right about the money.
I'm trying to understand why the court thinks the DPP was at fault (if that's what it means to have the defence legal costs are awarded against them).
I'm guessing the charges would have been dismissed because the police case wasn't good enough to take to trial. If that's correct, the DPP would have been doing the right thing when it stopped the matter from going any further.
