The fate of Rajwinder Singh, the man accused of the murder of Toyah Cordingley on a Far North Queensland beach, is now in the hands of a Cairns jury after the prosecution and defence delivered their closing arguments.
The Tragic Events at Wangetti Beach
The Cairns Supreme Court trial has heard detailed evidence about the events of October 21, 2018. Toyah Cordingley, a 24-year-old pharmacy worker and devoted animal lover, was walking her dog along the remote Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns, when she was allegedly attacked and killed.
Her body was discovered the following day by her father, Troy Cordingley, a discovery that launched a massive police investigation and left a community in mourning. The court was told that Rajwinder Singh, then a 38-year-old nurse and married father-of-three, fled Australia for India just hours after Ms Cordingley's death.
The Prosecution's Case and the Defence's Argument
Crown prosecutor Nathan Crane presented the jury with a case built on circumstantial evidence. He argued that a combination of factors pointed conclusively to Singh's guilt. This evidence included Singh's sudden and unexplained departure to India, his alleged disposal of his mobile phone and laptop, and forensic analysis linking fibres from his vehicle to the crime scene.
Mr Crane urged the jury to find that Singh had the opportunity and that his actions after the alleged murder demonstrated a consciousness of guilt. The prosecution alleges Singh's flight to India was a direct attempt to evade justice.
In contrast, Singh's defence barrister, Penny White, argued that the Crown's case was riddled with reasonable doubt. She pointed out that there was no direct eyewitness, murder weapon, or DNA evidence conclusively placing her client at the scene.
Ms White challenged the reliability of the fibre evidence and suggested alternative explanations for Singh's sudden trip to India, including mental health struggles. She implored the jury to look at the evidence critically and not be swayed by the emotional weight of the tragedy.
The Path to Justice and a Community's Wait
The trial before Justice Henry is the culmination of a lengthy international effort. Singh was extradited from India to Australia in 2023 to face the murder charge, following years of legal proceedings and a substantial reward offered by Queensland authorities for information.
As the jury retires to consider its verdict, the Cairns community and Toyah Cordingley's family and friends continue their long wait for answers. The outcome of this trial will bring a close to a painful chapter that has gripped the region for over five years.
The jury must now decide, based solely on the evidence presented in court, whether the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that Rajwinder Singh is responsible for the murder of Toyah Cordingley.
