The man charged with the alleged murder of German backpacker Simone Strobel will be free to reunite with his family in Western Australia after being granted bail.
Tobias Moran, 42, is accused of murdering the kindergarten teacher on the NSW north coast 17 years ago.
The body of the 25-year-old was found concealed under palm fronds in Lismore in February 2005, six days after being reported missing.
Mr Moran was arrested last week and extradited from Western Australia to Sydney where he was charged with murder and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
In the Downing Centre on Thursday, Magistrate Margaret Quinn granted bail to Mr Moran and described the prosecution's case as "weak".
"There's a circumstantial case, but there doesn't appear to be any evidence connecting him to the offence," Ms Quinn said.
"I take into account 53 DNA samples taken — none of them point to Mr Moran."
She also said there was no further evidence from the time of the alleged murder and the coroner's report was inconclusive.
Although the prosecution had raised concerns that Mr Moran was a flight risk, Ms Quinn disagreed.
"In my view, he doesn't look like a flight risk to me especially, since he handed himself in for extradition," Ms Quinn said.
She said it was unlikely Mr Moran would flee the country given "multiple" people were "willing" to put up $450,000 as surety.
"That's a fair amount of money."
Mr Moran was granted bail with conditions which include reporting to a WA police station three days a week and handing his mobile phone to police when requested.
He is also not allowed to go within 500 metres of an international airport and must surrender his passport within three days of leaving prison.
It is unknown when Mr Moran will be released from his prison cell as the Crown lawyer indicated a "potential" detention application would be made to the Supreme Court.
Mr Moran appeared via video link from Parklea Correctional Centre.
He will face court on September 28.
