A man has been charged with murdering a 25-year-old backpacker on the New South Wales north coast 17 years ago, and police have issued arrest warrants for two persons of interest in Germany.
The body of German kindergarten teacher Simone Strobel was found concealed under palm fronds in Lismore in February 2005.
On Tuesday, police arrested Tobias Moran, 42, in Perth. He was extradited to Sydney late on Wednesday and was charged with murder and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Mr Moran did not appear during a brief mention at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court this morning, but his solicitor, Vivian Evans, told the magistrate a bail application would be made next Wednesday.
Mr Moran will remain in custody until then.
Superintendent Scott Tanner says NSW Police is talking with German authorities about the arrest warrants for two other people.
"[They have been] persons of interest from the very beginning, and we believe they've got information that may be able to assist with the investigation."
In 2020, a $1 million reward for information about Ms Strobel's death was offered but Superintendent Tanner said it did not yield any information leading to the murder charge.
He said DNA evidence would form part of the prosecution's case but that the reward was still on offer as police believed there "are other people who have knowledge of this murder".
Superintendent Tanner said Ms Strobel's family in Germany were still "very distressed" by the events but there was a "sense of relief" with the latest developments.
"She was on the adventure of a lifetime in a foreign country and they never got to say their goodbyes," he said.
Ms Strobel had been backpacking along Australia's east coast before she died.
She arrived in Lismore on February 11, 2005 and checked into the Lismore Tourist Caravan Park. That night was the last time Ms Strobel was seen alive.
A coronial inquiry in 2007 found the evidence available at that time did not warrant the matter being referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
A NSW Police strike force has been investigating the case with its counterparts in Germany since 2005.
Speaking in Lismore today, Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the developments were a "significant milestone" and a "breakthrough" for the homicide investigation.
"This murder shocked this community. This murder has been something that the community has been following and wanting answers to for a many number of years," he said.
