Main suspect in Toyah Cordingley case arrested in India
The main suspect in the murder of Cairns woman Toyah Cordingley has been arrested in New Delhi. SEE THE FIRST PICTURES
Police & Courts
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- Watch: What happened to Toyah Cordingley?
- Qld first: Launch of a million-dollar manhunt
- Watch: Toyah Cordingley’s mum speaks out
Toyah Cordingley’s suspected killer Rajwinder Singh has been arrested in India on Friday, with Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll saying it was “a long time coming”.
“We are so thrilled to announce that the suspect in Toyah Cordingley’s murder has been arrested in India,” Ms Carroll said, adding she was confident detectives had a strong case to put before the courts.
“Toyah’s murder shocked everyone in that part of the world and outraged all Queenslanders.
“Even though it has been four years I am so pleased we can bring further closure to her family. It was never a question of if, but when this day would come.”
Police recently announced they were offering a reward of $1 million to help them find fugitive Singh, who fled to India two days after the young Queensland woman was murdered.
Ms Carroll said she had “scant detail about how the arrest occurred but confirmed Toyah’s family had been informed.
“It’s very early days. I spoke to the AFP just a few hours ago who gave me the initial information that an arrest has been made,” she said.
“From here on in, what will happen is he will appear before court and extradition will happen after that.”
Ms Carroll said it was a bittersweet day for Toyah’s family.
“I definitely believe this will go down as another one of those famous police homicide investigations,” the Commissioner said.
“I know behind the scenes the work that has been done. I know how relentless it has been, how comprehensive it has been.”
Ms Carroll could not give a timeline of Singh’s extradition
“I think there’s always a concern with any (court) process, but I know we’ve had a lot of interaction with the police in India.
“It has been a complex piece of work already been done to prepare for this, so I am confident the process should go quite smoothly.”
Australia Federal Police Apprehension Strike Team and AFP New Delhi have been actively involved in the investigation, and received information about the suspect’s whereabouts today before he was arrested by Indian police.
Commander Transnational Operations Richard Chin said AFP investigators worked tirelessly with state and international counterparts.
“We hope that today’s arrest brings some closure to the victim’s family following an agonising four years of uncertainty,” he said.
“The AFP acknowledges the close relationship with Indian law enforcement and QPS which have allowed us to work effectively and achieve this significant outcome.”
Police Minister Mark Ryan said he had spoken to lead detective Acting Superintendent Sonia Smith after the arrest.
“She was breathless talking to me and I think that reflects the emotion, but also the milestone, today represents,” Mr Ryan said.
The recent reward offer was the largest in the state’s history and was highly unusual because it related to information leading to his capture, rather than a conviction.
Ms Cordingley was 24 when she was attacked and killed in October, 2018, while walking her dog along the picturesque North Queensland Wangetti Beach.
Her body was found by her father the following morning during a frantic search conducted by friends and family.
Police later discovered Innisfail nurse Mr Singh had boarded a plane to India two days after Ms Cordingley’s murder, leaving behind his job, his wife and their three children.
Police early this month released images of Mr Singh leaving the country on October 23. He flew out of Cairns Airport to Sydney before travelling on to India.
Detectives from Queensland travelled to India at the time of the reward announcement to liaise with local police.
A government source said Indian authorities issued a warrant for Mr Singh’s arrest earlier this week, before arresting him today.
He said Mr Singh would face court in India later today, local time.
Indian authorities issued the warrant, related to the killing of Toyah Cordingley, following the extradition request from Australia.
The extradition process could take months or more, as it goes through the legal system.
The Queensland Police Service is expected to address the media later this afternoon.
In response to the boosted reward, Toyah’s dad Troy said justice was the least his daughter deserved.
“Toyah was a young woman who will never get the chance to live a full life and all that entails – never get the chance to live, laugh and love, never get the chance to have children or grandchildren, to grow old. She’ll never get the chance to live the life she deserved.”
Mr Cordingley said justice would not bring his daughter back, but it was “the very least that she deserves”.
“At the very minimum, this person must be removed from society and held accountable for their crime,” he said.
Toyah’s mum Vanessa said her daughter was a beautiful spiritual person.
“And her life was taken way too early,” she said.
“I see her friends and stuff married with kids now and think of everything she has missed out on in her life.
“She was just about to start her first full-time job on the Monday which never happened.”
Vanessa said her daughter loved “everyone” and animals.
“She would do anything for anybody,” she said.
“A lot of people knew Toyah for Toyah but they didn’t actually know her.
“Because she was such a great person, her personality and helping people, she just stuck out in the crowd.”
Vanessa said she couldn’t believe police had announced a reward and that her daughter would not have expected such publicity.
“I’m hoping that someone will come through with information and Toyah gets the justice that she deserves.
“I know they (police) haven’t stopped, there is so much behind the scenes that people don’t understand. There is so much stuff that you can’t say to your family and friends and especially about the reward, when I found out I just wanted to tell everybody.
“I can’t believe that it is $1 million but Toyah deserves that. She deserves every bit of it.”
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