- By Shivangi Sharma
- Mon, 08 Dec 2025 10:45 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
An Indian-origin former hospital nurse, Rajwinder Singh, has been found guilty of the 2018 murder of Australian woman Toyah Cordingley, ending one of Queensland’s most high-profile cold cases. The crime took place on October 22, 2018, when Cordingley’s body was discovered half-buried in the sand dunes of Wangetti Beach in Queensland. Prosecutors told the court that Singh went to the beach that day after an argument with his wife and was allegedly carrying fruit and a kitchen knife.
According to the prosecution’s case, Cordingley, a pharmacy worker, was walking her dog along the beach when the incident unfolded. Her dog reportedly barked at Singh, leading to a verbal confrontation. Investigators said Singh became enraged during the exchange and fatally stabbed the 24-year-old. He then attempted to conceal the crime by burying her body in the sand and tying her dog to a nearby tree.
Emotional Scenes In Courtroom
The verdict was delivered by a jury at the Cairns Supreme Court, where emotions ran high. As the guilty verdict was read out, Cordingley’s father reportedly shouted at the accused, “Rot in hell, you bastard,” in a powerful and emotional moment inside the courtroom.
Singh fled Australia just two days after the murder, abandoning his job, wife and three children. He claimed he was travelling overseas due to his grandfather’s illness, but investigators later said he made no contact with his family for years.
Within weeks, police had identified him as their prime suspect after linking the movements of his car to the location data of Cordingley’s mobile phone.
Arrest, Extradition And Trial Delays
To track him down, Queensland Police announced a reward of A$1 million, the largest ever offered by the department, for any information leading to his arrest.
After nearly four years on the run, Singh was arrested in November 2022 by the Special Cell of Delhi Police at a gurudwara in Delhi. He was extradited from India to Australia in 2023 to face trial.
The case faced multiple delays due to missing documents, and one juror was removed over allegations of bias, although the court later ruled the remaining jury panel was impartial.
Singh now faces life imprisonment, with sentencing expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The verdict has been welcomed by Cordingley’s family as a long-awaited step toward justice after years of pain and uncertainty.