Rajwinder Singh accused of murdering Toyah Cordingley disembarks Government plane in Cairns following extradition
The man accused of murdering Toyah Cordingley has been formally charged with murder after being extradited to Cairns from India via Melbourne.
Police & Courts
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The man accused of murdering North Queensland woman Toyah Cordingley has been formally charged after arriving in Cairns on a Queensland Government plane.
His arrival was swiftly followed by a press conference where Detective Inspector Sonia Smith, one of the officers who has worked on the investigation since Toyah’s murder in October 2018, confirmed Singh would be formally charged with murder on Thursday.
Just after 5.30pm Queensland police announced the charge had been laid.
Det Insp Smith said it was expected he would appear before Cairns Magistrates Court on Friday.
Det Insp Smith said police were grateful for the assistance provided by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s office, the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and the government of India.
She said they were particularly grateful to the AFP officers based in New Delhi, who she said had been “critical” in bringing Singh back to Australia.
“The extradition would not have been possible without their support,” Det Insp Smith said.
She also thanked the “core team” of investigators who had never given up hope of making an arrest in Toyah’s murder.
“This team has remained committed from the first day of the investigation despite the challenging and complex nature involved in an international extradition process,” Det Insp Smith said.
“The support shown to police over the last four years by our community is very much appreciated
“The murder of Toyah had a significant impact on everybody and I acknowledge that her family and friends are still dealing with the loss.”
Det Insp Smith acknowledged Toyah’s parents, Vanessa and Troy, saying police were grateful for their ongoing support.
“Today’s outcome is one step forward in the judicial process,” she said.
“I recognise that this is an extremely difficult time for them both.”
The detective read aloud statements prepared by each of Toyah’s parents.
“I am so relieved to have this person back here in Queensland,” Toyah’s mother Vanessa said in her statement.
“I would like to sincerely thank the QPS for their ongoing dedication to Toyah’s case.
“We thank the community for their ongoing love and support throughout these difficult times.
“Now we wait patiently for the justice our beautiful daughter Toyah deserves.”
Her father Troy said: “I welcome the news from the Queensland Police.
“The return to Australia of the main suspect in Toyah’s case is one more step in the process I can cross off my list.
“This is a very difficult time for me both mentally and physically but it is positive news and I again thank the police for keeping me informed and updated on a regular basis.
“There is still a long way to go but we are moving in the right direction.
“I will continue to stay as strong as I can until we reach some sort of justice for my beautiful girl. All for Toyah.”
Footage released earlier by the Queensland Police Service shows Rajwinder Singh boarding the government jet in Melbourne accompanied by detectives.
It touched down shortly before 1pm on Thursday.
Wearing a black jumper and grey track pants, Singh, who had been on the run since 2018, was led from a black van onto the plane by Detective Inspector Chris Knight, formerly of the Homicide Investigation Unit.
His arrival comes as it was revealed investigators had allegedly linked the former Innisfail nurse to the murder of Ms Cordingley through DNA, as well as his phone and hers hitting the same mobile tower, a court has been told.
Detectives had obtained a warrant for the father-of three’s arrest – only to discover he had allegedly fled the country.
Details of the evidence police collected following the 2018 murder of the 24-year-old North Queensland woman were finally revealed during a brief court hearing in Melbourne on Wednesday.
The hearing was the culmination of a long-running investigation and an international manhunt that came to an end after police offered up a million-dollar reward for information leading to the 38-year-old’s capture.
The reward led to his capture about three weeks later, with Singh making multiple appearances before an Indian court following his arrest on November 25.
Mr Singh landed in Melbourne on Wednesday after boarding a plane in India, accompanied by four Queensland police officers.
He was met by Victorian homicide detectives at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport who arrested him for Toyah’s murder.
Singh was then taken to the Melbourne Magistrates Court to face an extradition hearing and was is expected to arrive in Queensland on Thursday.
“The investigation relied upon DNA evidence which links Mr Singh to (Toyah’s) homicide,” Acting Superintendent Kevin Goan, who travelled to India from North Queensland and back again, told the court on Wednesday.
He said mobile phone tower evidence also showed both Singh and Toyah’s mobile phones “travelling in sync”.
“He fled to India, abandoning his family and his employment in Innisfail,” Superintendent Goan told the court.
A global ‘red notice’ was issued through the Attorney-General’s department, he said, with Singh’s whereabouts unknown at that stage.
A red notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to find and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action, according to Interpol.
Cairns-based lawyer Derek Perkins dialled into the hearing from his north Queensland office to represent Singh.
He said they would not be opposing the police’s application for extradition.
“I can confirm I’ve spoken to Mr Singh and he instructs me that he consents to the application,” Mr Perkins said.
Singh had to initially appear in a Victorian court because direct flights from Delhi only go to Melbourne.
Toyah was murdered in October, 2018, while walking her dog at Wangetti Beach, about 30km north of Cairns.
Her body was found the following morning after she failed to return home.
Outside court, Superintendent Goan said there was a “lengthy process” ahead for Singh.
“Toyah’s family has been included every step of the way in this process and clearly they will take some comfort in knowing that the justice process will commence on Australian soil,” he said.
Toyah’s father, Troy Cordingley, said he was grateful for the efforts of Queensland police.
“There is still a long way to go, but we are moving in the right direction,” he said.
“I will continue to stay as strong as I can until we reach some sort of justice for my beautiful girl.
“All for Toyah.”
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