Rajwinder Singh’s first words in Cairns court after being charged with Toyah Cordingley’s murder

Extra security was in place at Cairns Magistrates Court on Friday as the man charged with Toyah Cordingley’s murder appeared and spoke his first words.

• Read Toyah’s mum’s statement

EXTRA security was in place at Cairns Magistrates Court on Friday as the man charged with the murder of Toyah Cordingley at Wangetti Beach on October 21, 2018, appeared in court.

Rajwinder Singh appeared via video link, wearing a white T-shirt and grey track pants and a black turban, from Cairns watchhouse.

Magistrate Cathy McLennan remanded him in custody.

Magistrate McLennan asked Mr Singh if he could hear and he replied “yes ma’am.”

She ordered that the prosecution disclose its brief of evidence by April 14 to Mr Singh’s lawyer Derek Perkins of Cairns Criminal lawyers.

The case is set for mention on April 28.

Rajwinder Singh has appeared in Cairns court after being charged with the murder of Toyah Cordingley.

Speaking outside court, Mr Perkins said his client was innocent.

“Mr Singh is innocent until proven guilty,” he said.

Asked if a bail application would be made, he said “no comment”.

Asked if he believed Mr Singh would be safe in prison, he said “that’s a matter for authorities”.

Four years after the horrific death of the vivacious 24-year-old, Mr Singh was formally charged with murder after arriving from India via Melbourne in Cairns on Thursday.

Earlier this week, four Queensland detectives accompanied him on a Qantas flight from New Delhi to Melbourne.

Mr Singh’s defence lawyer Derek Perkins leaves the Cairns Magistrates Court. Picture: Brendan Radke

Applying for Mr Singh’s extradition to Queensland in a Melbourne court, Cairns detective inspector Kevin Goan said police had DNA allegedly linking Mr Singh to Toyah’s death, as well as phone tower evidence to show their mobile phones “travelling in sync”.

Acting Superintendent Kevin Goan told the court Mr Singh was arrested in India in November 2022 on suspicion of the murder of Toyah.

“On the 21st of October she was located deceased on Wan­getti Beach about 40km north of Cairns,” he told the court.

“The case relies on DNA evidence which links Mr Singh to her (alleged) homicide.

“There is also other telephone evidence which suggests the movement of Ms Cordingley’s phone with Mr Singh’s phone in proximity … travelled to the western side of Cairns.”

Rosanne Alexander shows her support for Toyah Cordingley's family outside the Cairns Magistrates Court. Picture: Brendan Radke

Acting Superintendent Goan said police would allege Mr Singh fled to India shortly after ­Cordingley’s death, “abandoning his family and employment in Innisfail”.

Mr Singh was captured in India’s capital after four years on the run – three weeks after Queensland Police offered up a million dollar reward for information on his whereabouts.

Police have alleged he flew out of Cairns the same day Toyah’s body was found, buried in the sand, at Wangetti Beach, where she had gone about 4pm on October 20 to walk her dog.

Ms Cordingley worked at a pharmacy and was extensively involved in animal welfare as a volunteer.

Mr Singh, who was arrested in India on November 25 following a tip off that he was leaving the religious sect where he was based for a doctor’s appointment, spoke to a News Corp journalist as he was being escorted from his cell to a New Delhi court.

Queensland Police officers and detectives escort Rajwinder Singh from a chartered jet to a waiting police car at Cairns Airport after being extradited from New Delhi to Cairns via Melbourne on March 2. Picture: Brendan Radke

“I have done nothing wrong,” he said.

“I am not the killer, I didn’t kill her.

Toyah’s family has praised local and federal police for their tenacity, which led to the arrest of murder suspect Rajwinder Singh in India after an intense four year manhunt.

As Mr Singh awaits a court appearance from his Indian prison cell, Troy Cordingley said he was profoundly grateful for the constant communication from the different levels of police and government authorities.

In early December, Toyah’s devastated father Troy Cordingley urged the public to let justice take its course.

“I would respectfully ask the media and the community in general not to engage in rumours or gossip concerning Toyah’s case,” he said.

“The only people who should be commenting on the case are the Queensland Police or Toyah’s immediate family, such as myself or her mother, Vanessa.”

Originally published as Rajwinder Singh’s first words in Cairns court after being charged with Toyah Cordingley’s murder