Jury in Prominent Down Under Murder Case Visits Shoreline At Which Deceased Was Found

Wangetti Beach scene
The body of Toyah Cordingley was discovered on a remote coastline in Far North Queensland back in 2018.

Members of the jury involved in a widely publicized Queensland murder trial have traveled to the remote shore where the victim was discovered.

The 24-year-old victim was repeatedly stabbed with a bladed weapon and buried in a sandy resting place with minimal chance of survival, the jury has heard.

Her body were found by a family member the next day on Wangetti Beach – a stretch of shoreline between the popular destinations of Cairns and Port Douglas.

Rajwinder Singh, 41, denies killing Ms Cordingley on a Sunday afternoon in October 2018 in northern Australia.

Court Visit to Crime Scene

The jury of 12 individuals plus three back-up jurors attended the location along with the judge and barristers on the start of the week in Queensland.

In a nod to the hot climate and temperatures above 30C, Justice Lincoln Crowley wore a T-shirt, sport shorts and trainers rather than traditional court attire.

Both the prosecuting and defense attorneys selected casual shirts, shorts and headwear.

Location Details

The jurors were led around three-quarters of a mile north up the sand to see where Ms Cordingley's body were uncovered.

Earlier, as they traveled to the site, several markers showed where the vehicle had been left.

The trip was intended to help the panel become familiar with important sites in the trial and no testimony was given.

Context of the Case

Last week, the Cairns Supreme Court was informed that the day after Ms Cordingley's remains were discovered, Mr Singh departed from Australia to India – leaving behind his wife, family and parents.

He was out of contact until he was apprehended four years later, the prosecution said.

Court officials at the beach
Justice Lincoln Crowley with barristers and other personnel at Wangetti Beach.

State Argument

It is claimed that the defendant, who was employed in healthcare in the community of Innisfail, near Cairns, had a confrontation with Ms Cordingley.

The victim was found wearing a swimwear, with all her other clothes and most of her possessions absent.

Those items were removed by the killer to conceal evidence, prosecutors contend.

Her pet, Indie, which Ms Cordingley had taken to the beach for a stroll, was located secured to a post concealed in shrubland about 30 metres from the burial site.

No murder weapon was ever recovered, and no one have been found.

But the state says the crown's case – though circumstantial – was made up of proof that indicated Mr Singh "excluding other suspects."

This will include testimony that DNA recovered from a stick at the location was extremely more likely to have originated from Mr Singh than a random member of the population.

The jury has previously been told evidence indicating that Ms Cordingley's mobile device departed the scene after the incident – and that its travel corresponded with those of a blue Alfa Romeo owned by the accused.

Mr Singh's sudden departure from Australia also suggested his involvement, the prosecution has claimed.

Defense Stance

"As the police were discovering Toyah's remains, he was arranging... a rushed one way trip back to India," Mr Crane said previously as he began arguments.

The defense is has not provided testimony, but in his opening address, Mr Singh's barrister Greg McGuire described his client as a "placid" and "caring" man, who was in the "wrong place at the unfortunate moment."

He also hinted at testimony to come subsequently that, after his arrest, Mr Singh told an undercover officer he had witnessed assailants assault Ms Cordingley and then had run away in terror – something he said was his "biggest mistake."

Mr McGuire has also said he will testify about other people "identified and unidentified" who should come under suspicion.

Further Testimony

Ms Cordingley's boyfriend at the time, Marco Heidenreich, whom police excluded as a person of interest, was one who testified previously.

The court was informed he was an initial person of interest – and that he had faced questions from Ms Cordingley's parent about whether he was implicated in his partner's disappearance, even before her body were discovered.

Images depicting Mr Heidenreich on a walk with a friend on the date Ms Cordingley disappeared have been presented to the court, with an expert saying he was certain the pictures were genuine and had not been altered in any way.

The case will return to the standard environment of the courthouse on Tuesday.

Sergio Parks
Sergio Parks

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