Key Takeaways
- Rajwinder Singh, a 41-year-old former nurse, has been found guilty of the 2018 murder of Toyah Cordingley, a 24-year-old animal shelter volunteer.
- Singh stabbed Ms Cordingley and cut her throat on Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns, before fleeing to India where he spent four years in hiding.
- The jury reached a unanimous verdict after a four-week retrial in the Supreme Court in Cairns, eight months after Singh’s first trial ended in a hung jury.
- Ms Cordingley’s death led to an outpouring of grief in Far North Queensland, with hundreds marching against violence towards women and calling for justice.
- Singh’s sentencing submissions are scheduled to take place on Tuesday morning.
Introduction to the Case
A former nurse, Rajwinder Singh, has been found guilty of the 2018 murder of Toyah Cordingley, a 24-year-old animal shelter volunteer. The jury reached a unanimous verdict after a four-week retrial in the Supreme Court in Cairns, eight months after Singh’s first trial ended in a hung jury. The case has been a long and emotional one, with Ms Cordingley’s family and the community of Far North Queensland waiting for justice to be served.
The Events of the Murder
Ms Cordingley had gone to Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns, on the afternoon of October 21, 2018, to walk her dog Indie. Her father, Troy, found her body the next morning after hours of searching, while Indie was found alive, tied tightly to a tree nearby. The investigation into Ms Cordingley’s death led police to identify Singh as a person of interest, after realizing that the movements of his blue Alfa Romeo matched those of Ms Cordingley’s phone away from the beach.
The Investigation and Arrest
Singh booked a one-way flight to New Delhi the morning after Ms Cordingley’s death, telling a travel agent that his grandfather was very sick. He told his wife, Sukhdeep Kaur, that he was going out for a couple of days, but it would be more than four years until any of his family heard from him again. Singh’s family, including his parents and three young children, were financially dependent on him and lost their home during his time in hiding. Singh was arrested at a Sikh gurdwara in New Delhi in November 2022, about three weeks after Queensland police posted a $1 million reward for information on his whereabouts.
The Trial and Verdict
The trial began on November 10, with more than 80 witnesses called to give evidence over three weeks. The Crown argued that only the killer could have had Ms Cordingley’s phone and that Singh decided to flee that night, abandoning his family, because he was guilty of the murder. The defence argued that Singh, as a lone assailant, could not have overpowered Ms Cordingley and Indie, and pointed to numerous other men in the area with histories of violence, drug abuse, mental illness, and access to pig hunting knives. The jury took about seven hours to reach a unanimous verdict, finding Singh guilty of Ms Cordingley’s murder.
Reaction to the Verdict
There was an outpouring of emotion from the public gallery as the jury speaker read out the verdict. Ms Cordingley’s father could be heard saying "rot in hell, you bastard". Singh sat motionless in the dock. The case has had a significant impact on the community of Far North Queensland, with hundreds marching against violence towards women and calling for justice. The verdict brings closure to Ms Cordingley’s family and the community, but it also highlights the need for continued efforts to prevent violence against women.
Sentencing and Conclusion
The court was adjourned to Tuesday morning for sentencing submissions. Singh’s sentence will be determined at a later date. The case of Toyah Cordingley’s murder is a tragic reminder of the devastating impact of violence against women. The community of Far North Queensland has come together to support Ms Cordingley’s family and to call for justice, and the verdict brings a sense of closure to the case. However, it also highlights the need for continued efforts to prevent violence against women and to support those affected by it.