Panel of Jurors in Prominent Down Under Murder Trial Visits Beach Where Deceased Was Discovered

Wangetti Beach scene
The remains of Toyah Cordingley was discovered on a secluded beach in northern Queensland in 2018.

Members of the jury overseeing a widely publicized Queensland murder trial have been taken to the remote beach where the victim was located.

Toyah Cordingley was repeatedly attacked with a sharp object and buried in a sandy resting place with minimal chance of survival, the jury has heard.

Her body were found by her father the following day on Wangetti Beach – a stretch of coastline nestled between the tourist centres of Cairns and Port Douglas.

Rajwinder Singh, 41, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Cordingley on a weekend in October 2018 in northern Australia.

Jury Inspection to Beach

The jury of 10 men and two women plus three alternates visited the location along with the judge and barristers on Monday morning in Queensland.

In a acknowledgment of the hot climate and temperatures above 30C, the judge opted for a casual top, athletic wear and trainers rather than traditional court attire.

Both the lead prosecution and defense attorneys selected polo shirts, shorts and baseball caps.

Scene Details

The court members were led around three-quarters of a mile along the beach to observe where Ms Cordingley's body were discovered.

Earlier, as they traveled to the site, four red and white cones indicated where the vehicle had been left.

The visit was designed to help the jurors become familiar with key locations in the trial and no official evidence was presented.

Background of the Case

Last week, the court was informed that the following day Ms Cordingley's remains were found, Mr Singh flew from Australia to India – leaving behind his wife, family and parents.

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

Court officials at the beach
Justice Lincoln Crowley with legal representatives and other court officials at Wangetti Beach.

Prosecution Case

It is alleged that the defendant, who was working as a nurse in the town of Innisfail, south of Cairns, had a confrontation with Ms Cordingley.

The pharmacy worker was discovered wearing a swimwear, with all her other clothes and belongings absent.

Those objects were removed by the assailant to conceal evidence, prosecutors contend.

Her pet, Indie, which Ms Cordingley had brought along for a walk, was found secured to a post hidden in shrubland about 100 feet from the grave.

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

But the prosecution says the evidence – though circumstantial – was made up of proof that pointed to Mr Singh "excluding other suspects."

This will include evidence that genetic material recovered from a object at the scene was extremely more likely to have come from Mr Singh than a random member of the population.

The jury has already heard testimony suggesting that Ms Cordingley's mobile device departed the scene after the incident – and that its movements matched those of a blue Alfa Romeo belonging to the accused.

Mr Singh's sudden departure from Australia also pointed to his guilt, the prosecution has argued.

Defense Stance

"As the police were finding Toyah's remains, he was arranging... a rushed single journey back to India," the prosecutor said previously as he began arguments.

The defense is has not present any evidence, but in his opening address, Mr Singh's barrister Greg McGuire portrayed his defendant as a "placid" and "caring" man, who was in the "wrong place at the unfortunate moment."

He also hinted at testimony to come later in the trial that, after his apprehension, Mr Singh informed an undercover officer he had seen assailants assault Ms Cordingley and then had run away in fear – something he said was his "biggest mistake."

The defense attorney has also said he will give evidence about other people "both known and unknown" who should come under investigation.

Additional Evidence

Ms Cordingley's partner, Marco Heidenreich, whom police excluded as a possible suspect, was one who gave evidence last week.

The trial heard he was an initial person of interest – and that he had faced questions from Ms Cordingley's father about whether he was involved in his partner's disappearance, even before her remains were found.

Photographs depicting Mr Heidenreich on a walk with a friend on the day Ms Cordingley disappeared have been shown to the court, with an expert saying he was certain the pictures were authentic and had not been doctored in any manner.

The case will resume to the standard environment of the courtroom on the next day.

Amanda Lee
Amanda Lee

A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about innovation and self-improvement, sharing experiences and knowledge.