Jurors involved in the murder trial of Rajwinder Singh visited Wangetti Beach in Far North Queensland, Australia, on Monday. The site visit occurred as the second week of the trial commenced.
Case Overview
Toyah Cordingley, 24, was found deceased on Wangetti Beach in October 2018. The prosecution has stated that Ms. Cordingley sustained repeated stab wounds from a sharp object. Rajwinder Singh, 41, has entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of murder.
Site Visit Details
The jury, comprising ten men and two women, along with three backup jurors, attended Wangetti Beach. The judge and legal counsel were also present. The visit allowed jurors to observe key locations, including the area where Ms. Cordingley's vehicle was parked and the discovery site of her body, approximately 1.2 kilometers north along the sand. No official evidence was presented during this visit; its purpose was to familiarize jurors with the geographical context of the case.
Prosecution's Case
During the trial, the Cairns Supreme Court heard allegations that Mr. Singh departed Australia for India the day following the discovery of Ms. Cordingley's body. He was subsequently arrested four years later. The prosecution further alleges that Mr. Singh, who was employed as a nurse in Innisfail, had a confrontation with Ms. Cordingley.
Key points presented by the prosecution include:
- Ms. Cordingley was found wearing a bikini, with other clothing and most personal possessions reportedly missing. The crown alleges these items were removed to hinder detection.
- Her dog, Indie, was located tied to a tree in shrubland approximately 30 meters from where her body was found.
- No murder weapon has been recovered, and no eyewitnesses have been identified.
The prosecution's case is largely circumstantial. Evidence presented includes DNA recovered from a stick at the scene, which forensic analysis indicated was 3.8 billion times more likely to belong to Mr. Singh than a random individual. Additionally, evidence suggests Ms. Cordingley's phone left the beach after the incident, with its movements reportedly correlating with those of a blue Alfa Romeo owned by the accused. The prosecution has also cited Mr. Singh's departure from Australia as an indication of guilt.