A man has now been formally charged with the murder of German backpacker Simone Strobel in northern New South Wales 17 years ago.
The 25-year-old school teacher was last seen at the Lismore Tourist Caravan Park on 11 February 2005, after a night out with her then-boyfriend and friends.
Her naked body was found six days later, hidden under palm fronds at a sportsground less than 100m from the caravan park.
A coronial inquest in 2007 ruled there was insufficient evidence to lay charges over Simone’s death.
Despite the NSW Government offering a $1 million reward for information in 2020, the case remained unsolved – until now.
Following “extensive inquiries” strike force detectives travelled to Western Australia, where they arrested a 42-year-old man on Tuesday.
He faced court in Perth where New South Wales detectives successfully applied for his extradition.
He was accompanied by detectives on a flight to Sydney which arrived on Wednesday afternoon.
The man was taken to Mascot Police Station and charged with murder and do act with intent to pervert the course of justice.
He was refused bail and will front Downing Centre Local Court today.
