Jury in Rajwinder Singh trial inspects scene of Toyah Cordingley’s alleged murder at Wangetti Beach
Jurors in the Toyah Cordingley murder trial, along with the presiding judge and lawyers, have walked 4km along Wangetti Beach to inspect nine key locations central to the case against Rajwinder Singh on day six of the trial.
The jury in the trial of Rajwinder Singh, accused of murdering Toyah Cordingley in October 2018, has walked four kilometres along Wangetti beach during a “view” of nine key locations related to the evidence.
Mr Singh, 42, has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Presiding judge Justice Lincoln Crowley, in briefing the jury about Monday’s view, encouraged them to wear “casual, comfortable” clothing, but said that was where the informality ended.
“It is an official part of the trial, facilitated by the court, and overseen by myself,” Justice Crowley said.
“Counsel believe (seeing the locations) will assist you to understand the evidence in a realistic setting and therefore aid you in resolving the issues that will ultimately be placed before you in this trial.
“It can be used to assist in understanding but it is not evidence in itself.”
The jury was bussed to the alleged murder site, accompanied by bailiffs, after meeting at the Cairns courthouse around 9am, with the defence and prosecution legal teams, judge, and his associate making their own way to Wangetti Beach, just under an hour’s drive from Cairns City.
Mr Singh did not attend the view.
The jury stepped out in the southern carpark of the beach, Ms Cordingley’s car had been parked more than seven years ago, dressed in walking attire, hats, practical shoes and umbrellas to shield from the harsh sun and heat.
The 10 men and five women, including the three women who are reserve jurors, gathered beneath the shade of a tree while Justice Crowley delivered a short briefing on what they would see and how the site visit would proceed.
They were instructed there would be a slow, deliberate walk along the length of the beach, from the southern to the northern car parks – a distance of around 4km.
They first inspected the spot where Ms Cordingley’s car had been parked, near to the road, with witches hats marking the location.
The jury then began walking north.
From the shoreline, the only sign of where Ms Cordingley’s body was found 1.5km along the beach was a tiny fleck of orange in the distance, and a marquee that had been erected to provide shade for the jurors.
Ms Cordingley’s dog Indi was found tied to a tree nearby in the bushes, which the jury also inspected.
The group continued northward before they were taken to a second location, a stormwater drain that runs beneath the Captain Cook Highway, near Rifle Range Road.
This site has been referenced throughout the trial by defence as a possible access point to the beach.
During the trial, the jury has been told some of the beach landscape and features have changed in the eight years since the crime, but the tree where Indi was tied remains.
Justice Crowley said the jury would be allowed time to inspect each site, and could ask questions about the related evidence that had earlier been presented during the trial.
They also had the crime scene exhibit photographs with them on the beach for reference.
Justice Crowley said there could be no interactions between the jury, judge and legal teams at the beach.
“When we are walking – we will be walking away from you, not within earshot or close to you – keeping our distance, not because we are being rude, simply because we need to maintain that distance to maintain the integrity of the trial process.”
“Each of you as jurors must not only be impartial but be seen to be impartial; it would be inappropriate for us to be chit-chatting to you along the way. That’s the reason we can’t treat this as a social outing.”
A police presence was visible in the air and on the water.
A police helicopter conducted a 10 minute sweep before the jury arrived, ensuring the area was secure and free from members of the public.
Water police did the same from the shore, and two vessels were stationed off the coast during the view.
Additional officers walked with the jury along the beach to assist with logistics, safety and security.
Journalists and media were told to keep a strict distance from the group at all times.
Justice Crowley told the jury during an earlier briefing that the attending media were not be permitted to film or photograph jurors, and anyone who broadcast identifying information about any jury member made themselves liable for prosecution and a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment.
He said that while jurors could speak among themselves about what they saw, they should be careful not to be overheard by others, and save detailed discussions or debates for the jury room.
After the long walk in the heat and through rain later, the judge, in consultation with jury members, made orders that no further witnesses would be called in the afternoon, with the trial to resume on Tuesday morning for day seven.
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Originally published as Jury in Rajwinder Singh trial inspects scene of Toyah Cordingley’s alleged murder at Wangetti Beach
