Toyah Cordingley Murder Case: Rajwinder Singh found guilty of killing 24-year-old in 2018 on Far North Queensland beach; here’s what we know so far

A jury in the Supreme Court in Cairns has found Rajwinder Singh guilty of killing 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley on a secluded Far North Queensland beach seven years ago, according to reports.

The incident took place seven years ago when Cordingley was walking her dog at Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns, on October 21, 2018, when she was killed. Following Cordingley’s murder, her father discovered her body buried in sand the next morning. According to 7 News, she sustained stab wounds, and her throat was slashed.

The 41-year-old convict had pleaded not guilty. He was reportedly charged with murder in 2022. During the trial, jurors visited Wangetti Beach to see where the body was discovered.

What evidence was provided in the court?

According to 7 News, evidence presented in court included phone records, DNA samples, CCTV and traffic camera footage, and the movements of Singh’s blue Alfa Romeo.

The court was told that Singh left Australia for India the day after the murder. He reportedly left his family behind. He did not contact them until his arrest in New Delhi more than four years later. He did not contest extradition to Australia in 2023.

A DNA sample obtained from a stick at the scene was 3.7 billion times more likely to come from Singh than anyone else, as reported by 7 News.

Verdict after seven hours

The court jury arrived at a unanimous verdict after seven hours of hearing the case. The verdict came at the end of a four-week retrial in the court, eight months after Singh's first trial ended in a hung jury.

Following the verdict, Cordingley's father could be heard saying, "Rot in hell, you ba****d". Singh sat motionless in the dock, ABC News reported.