Pre-trial hearing: Marco Heidenreich tells court about search for Toyah Cordingley

Toyah Cordingley’s long-term boyfriend Marco Heidenreich ran along Wangetti Beach screaming her name the night she went missing, a court has heard.

Former boyfriend of Toyah Cordingley Marco Heidenreich leaves the Cairns Supreme Court on the first day of the pre-trial hearing for Rajwinder Singh, who is accused of the murder of 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley on Wangetti Beach on October 21, 2018. Picture: Brendan Radke

Toyah Cordingley’s long-term boyfriend Marco Heidenreich ran along Wangetti Beach screaming her name the night she went missing, a court has heard.

Mr Heidenreich cut a sombre figure as he was cross-examined in a Cairns Supreme Court pre-trial hearing for Rajwinder Singh, who is charged with the murder of 24-year-old Toyah at Wangetti Beach more than six years ago.

Mr Heidenreich, who shared a house with Toyah at Woree, was vigorously cross-examined by Mr Singh’s defence barrister Angus Edwards KC on Monday.

He has never spoken publicly about Toyah’s alleged murder.

The court heard that Mr Heidenreich last saw Toyah about 1.30pm on Sunday, October 21, 2018 – she had returned from Rusty’s Markets about midday and headed out to walk her dog about 1.30pm.

He left about 15-18 minutes later to drive to Port Douglas, pick up his friend Joel Cuman and hiked Spring Creek Falls.

The court heard on his way he saw Toyah’s car parked at the Wangetti Beach car park.

Mr Heidenreich thought about stopping but had already passed.

The hike at Spring Creek Falls did not go as planned because Mr Heidenreich’s dog ran off and could not be found.

Former boyfriend of Toyah Cordingley Marco Heidenreich and friend Joel Cuman leave the Cairns Supreme Court on the first day of the pre-trial hearing for Rajwinder Singh. Picture: Brendan Radke

He and Mr Cuman went to their friend Toby Petrack’s house to borrow torches at 7.05pm to keep searching for the lost dog, the court heard.

He was driving back down the Captain Cook Highway about 9.30pm and saw Toyah’s car abandoned in the car park.

Mr Heidenreich told the court he had tried calling Toyah from about 7.05pm but her iPhone went straight to voicemail.

He said he didn’t notice a text from Toyah sent at 3.17pm saying she was picking up a man named Tyson from the airport, and that he did not know anyone called Tyson.

He said he did not notice the text until he was at Wangetti about 9.30pm.

“Her phone was off, it went straight to message bank,” Mr Heidenreich said.

He saw that the car was open and ran out on to the beach.

“I ran up the beach screaming her name, trying to find her,” he said.

He said he ran about 1km up the beach.

Toyah Cordingley and boyfriend Marco Heidenreich. Toyah was killed at Wangetti Beach north of Cairns on Sunday, October 21, 2018. Rajwinder Singh, 38, has been charged with her murder.

“I didn’t really know what to think, I was just worried,” he said.

“I take it you’ve gone quite some distance,” Mr Edwards said.

“Not as far as … she was found,” Mr Heidenreich said.

He told the court he had walked the dogs at Wangetti with Toyah but did not usually walk as far as what Mr Edwards referred to as “the little creek that runs down”.

“You are familiar with the creek because of the following morning when her body was found,” Mr Edwards said.

Mr Heidenreich said yes.

He rang a friend, who told him to call the police, and he did.

“At some stage I realised there was a text from Toyah to me, I did not remember it seeing come through, I assumed I was out of phone range at Spring Falls. She said she had to pick up Tyson from the airport between 7pm and 8pm – I did not know any person called Tyson,” Mr Heidenreich said.

Toyah Cordingley with boyfriend Marco Heidenreich (left). Toyah was killed at Wangetti Beach north of Cairns on Sunday, October 21, 2018. Rajwinder Singh, 38, has been charged with her murder.

He agreed with Mr Edwards that he looked on Toyah’s laptop at her Facebook account later in the night “to work out who Tyson was”.

Crown prosecutor Nathan Crane asked if he recalled what time it was when it became dark while he was looking for his dog.

Mr Heidenreich could not recall, but sought a torch at 7.05pm and “it was dark some time before that”.

Mr Edwards asked Mr Heidenreich if he was aware metadata on the photographs at Spring Creek Falls, which showed the date, time, and location of the photograph, could be manipulated.

Mr Heidenreich said he was not aware of that.

“Did you or Joel change the metadata?” Mr Edwards asked.

“No, we did not,” Mr Heidenreich said.

“So the metadata should remain accurate?

“Yes,” Mr Heidenreich responded.

He was questioned at length about the nature of his relationship with Toyah and said things were fine between them.

He was asked if he was having a problem in the relationship, if she wanted her independence and wanted to separate and Mr Heidenreich said none of that was the case.

Mr Edwards asked Mr Heidenreich if Toyah had been feeling unwell mentally.

“Not to my knowledge, she was maybe a bit quiet,” he said.

Mr Edwards asked if their relationship remained physical and Mr Heidenreich said it had.

The pre-trial hearing continued on Tuesday, April 30, and will be reconvened on June 3.

The trial before a jury will begin on July 22.

Mr Singh has maintained his innocence.

Originally published as Pre-trial hearing: Marco Heidenreich tells court about search for Toyah Cordingley