Panel of Jurors in Prominent Australian Murder Case Visits Shoreline Where Deceased Was Found

Wangetti Beach scene
The body of Toyah Cordingley were found on a secluded coastline in Far North Queensland back in 2018.

Jurors involved in a high-profile Queensland homicide case have been taken to the remote beach where the victim was located.

Toyah Cordingley was repeatedly attacked with a sharp object and buried in a shallow resting place with minimal hope of surviving, the court has been told.

Her body were discovered by a family member the next day on Wangetti Beach – a section of shoreline between the popular destinations of Cairns and Port Douglas.

The accused, 41, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Cordingley on a Sunday afternoon in October 2018 in northern Australia.

Jury Visit to Beach

The jury of 10 men and two women plus three back-up jurors visited the location along with the presiding officer and barristers on Monday morning local time.

In a acknowledgment of the tropical conditions and temperatures above 30C, the judge opted for a T-shirt, sport shorts and trainers rather than a wig and robes.

Both the prosecuting and defence barristers selected casual shirts, shorts and baseball caps.

Location Details

The jurors were led around three-quarters of a mile along the beach to observe where Ms Cordingley's body were discovered.

Earlier, as they arrived by bus, several red and white cones indicated where the vehicle had been left.

The visit was intended to help the panel become acquainted with important sites in the trial and no testimony was given.

Context of the Case

Last week, the Cairns Supreme Court was informed that the following day Ms Cordingley's remains were found, Mr Singh flew from Australia to India – leaving behind his wife, three children and relatives.

He was not heard from until he was apprehended years after, the prosecution said.

Court officials at the beach
Justice Lincoln Crowley with legal representatives and other court officials at Wangetti Beach.

Prosecution Case

It is alleged that Mr Singh, who was employed in healthcare in the community of Innisfail, south of Cairns, had a altercation with Ms Cordingley.

The pharmacy worker was discovered wearing a bikini, with her attire and belongings missing.

Those items were removed by the assailant to conceal evidence, the prosecution contend.

Her dog, Indie, which Ms Cordingley had brought along for a stroll, was found tied up to a tree hidden in bushland about 100 feet from the grave.

The weapon was found, and no one have been identified.

But the prosecution says the crown's case – though circumstantial – was made up of proof that pointed to Mr Singh "and eliminated others."

This will include evidence that DNA recovered from a object at the scene was 3.8 billion times more likely to have originated from Mr Singh than a unrelated individual of the population.

The court has previously been told testimony suggesting that Ms Cordingley's mobile device left the scene after the incident – and that its movements corresponded with those of a blue Alfa Romeo owned by the defendant.

Mr Singh's quick exit from Australia also pointed to his involvement, the state has argued.

Defence Position

"As the police were discovering Toyah's remains, he was arranging... a rushed single journey back to India," Mr Crane said previously as he began arguments.

The defense is yet to provided testimony, but in his opening address, Mr Singh's barrister the lawyer described his client as a "calm" and "caring" man, who was in the "incorrect location at the unfortunate moment."

He also foreshadowed testimony to come subsequently that, after his arrest, Mr Singh told an undercover officer he had witnessed assailants attack Ms Cordingley and then had fled in fear – something he said was his "biggest mistake."

The defense attorney has also said he will testify about other people "identified and unidentified" who should come under suspicion.

Further Evidence

Ms Cordingley's boyfriend at the time, the witness, whom police excluded as a possible suspect, was among those who gave evidence last week.

The trial heard he was an initial police suspect – and that he had faced questions from Ms Cordingley's parent about whether he was involved in his girlfriend's vanishing, even before her body were found.

Photographs depicting Mr Heidenreich on a hike with a friend on the day Ms Cordingley disappeared have been shown to the jury, with an expert saying he was confident the photos were authentic and had not been altered in any manner.

The case will return to the standard environment of the courthouse on Tuesday.

Judy Howe
Judy Howe

Elara is a wellness coach and writer passionate about sharing mindfulness techniques for everyday life.