The murder trial of 40-year-old nurse Rajwinder Singh has resumed over the 2018 killing of 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley, whose body was found buried on Wangetti Beach. Her father discovered her the day after she disappeared while walking her dog; the pet was later found tied to a nearby tree. Forensic experts described a 17 cm neck wound and other injuries, and prosecutors say phone pings and traffic camera footage are central to their case. Jurors visited the remote beach to inspect the scene as the trial continues.
Jurors Visit Remote Beach Where 24-Year-Old Toyah Cordingley Was Found Buried — Nurse Faces Murder Trial
The murder trial of 40-year-old nurse Rajwinder Singh has resumed over the 2018 killing of 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley, whose body was found buried on Wangetti Beach. Her father discovered her the day after she disappeared while walking her dog; the pet was later found tied to a nearby tree. Forensic experts described a 17 cm neck wound and other injuries, and prosecutors say phone pings and traffic camera footage are central to their case. Jurors visited the remote beach to inspect the scene as the trial continues.
04:10 PM, 11/18/2025Society
Trial Reaches Remote Site Where Toyah Cordingley Was Buried
The murder trial over the 2018 death of 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley has resumed with jurors, the judge and lawyers visiting the isolated stretch of Wangetti Beach in Far North Queensland where her body was discovered.
Toyah went missing on Oct. 21, 2018, while walking her dog. Her father, Troy Cordingley, went searching the next day and found an unusual mound of sand. "I dropped down to my knees and I scooped the sand three times, and on the third scoop, there was a foot," he told reporters. He said he called out, "Help me, help me," after uncovering her body.
Troy Cordingley: "I reeled back. I was horrified. I yelled out 'Help me, help me.' I was shocked, stunned."
Forensic pathologist Dr. Paul Botterill told jurors Toyah suffered an "extraordinarily deep" 17-centimetre wound to her neck, along with injuries to her abdomen, chest and fingers. Crown prosecutors have told the court there is a possibility she was buried shortly before or after death and may have been buried alive.
Authorities found Toyah's dog, Indie, tied to a tree near the scene. Police say items including Toyah's phone later pinged at locations far from the beach, and traffic-camera footage showed a blue car similar to the defendant's vehicle in areas consistent with those pings. Prosecutors allege the accused drove past bodies of water to dispose of items.
Rajwinder Singh, 40, a nurse who has pleaded not guilty to murder, was arrested in March 2023. Prosecutors say he left Australia, resigned from his job and stopped mortgage payments after Toyah's body was found. His first trial ended with a hung jury in March.
On Nov. 17 jurors walked nearly 2.5 miles to the exact site where the body was recovered so they could better visualise the terrain and evidence locations. The trial will examine forensic findings, phone and camera records, and the timeline prosecutors say connects the accused to the killing.
Next steps: Jurors will continue hearing testimony and reviewing evidence before determining whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty of murder.