A 41-year-old former nurse has received a life sentence following his conviction for the killing of Toyah Cordingley, bringing closure to a case that remained unresolved for seven years. Cordingley, aged 24, was discovered by her father on October 22, 2018, partially concealed beneath sand dunes at Wangetti Beach, located roughly 40 kilometers north of Cairns.
Rajwinder Singh was convicted by a jury of fatally attacking Ms. Cordingley with multiple stab wounds and a throat laceration at the isolated coastal location before concealing her body in a shallow grave.
Known for her work at an animal shelter and an organic food store, Ms. Cordingley’s passing sparked widespread mourning, with those who knew her remembering her as “gentle, humble and loving.”The jury reached their unanimous decision after deliberating for roughly seven hours.Singh received his life sentence on Tuesday and will become eligible for parole consideration after serving 25 years.
Investigators turned their focus to Singh shortly after Ms. Cordingley’s remains were discovered, following DNA analysis of a stick recovered from the scene. The evidence indicated the DNA was 3.8 billion times more likely to belong to Singh than to an arbitrary individual.
Despite this early lead, his apprehension took years to accomplish after he departed for India on the same day Ms. Cordingley’s body was located, abandoning his wife, three children, and parents in Innisfail, a North Queensland community.
Following four years as a fugitive, Singh was taken into custody in New Delhi during November 2022, mere weeks after Queensland authorities announced a $1 million reward for helpful information—the largest such reward in the state’s history.
Queensland Police verified that the reward money was distributed among multiple recipients.
“We appreciate the significant public interest in this matter, however, information provided on the process is limited as it is obtained on a confidential basis,” police stated.
“As such we will not reveal specifics of the reward only to advise it has been paid in full to a number of claimants.”