Rajwinder Singh Sentenced to Life for Toyah Cordingley's 2018 Murder in Queensland

Life Sentence Handed Down in Cairns Supreme Court

Rajwinder Singh, 41, a former nurse, has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2018 murder of Toyah Cordingley, 24, in Far North Queensland, Australia. The sentencing, delivered on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, in the Cairns Supreme Court, includes a non-parole period of 25 years, exceeding the mandatory minimum by five years.

Justice Lincoln Crowley presided over the sentencing, noting that Singh's motive remained 'unknown' but described the attack as 'opportunistic' and a 'shocking and sickening act of violence'. Singh stood motionless with his head bowed as the sentence was read.

The Tragic Discovery at Wangetti Beach

Toyah Cordingley, an animal shelter volunteer, was brutally murdered on October 21, 2018, while walking her dog, Indie, at Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns. Her body was discovered half-buried in sand dunes the following morning by her devastated father, Troy Cordingley, after she failed to return home. Her dog was found unharmed and tied to a tree nearby.

Evidence presented in court revealed that Ms. Cordingley sustained repeated stab wounds and had her throat slashed, with numerous defensive wounds indicating she fought for her life. Police described her death as resulting from 'a personal and intimate attack'.

Flight, Manhunt, and Extradition

Immediately following the murder, Rajwinder Singh, who was living in Innisfail, departed Australia on October 22, 2018, boarding a flight to India, his country of birth. He left behind his wife and three children, claiming his grandfather was gravely ill. Singh spent more than four years in hiding.

The extensive manhunt led Queensland Police to offer a record $1 million reward in late 2022 for information leading to Singh's location and arrest. Weeks later, Singh was arrested in New Delhi in November 2022. He did not contest extradition and was returned to Australia in March 2023 to face murder charges.

Trial and Verdict

Singh pleaded not guilty to the murder. His first trial, held eight months prior, resulted in a hung jury. The subsequent four-week retrial in Cairns saw a jury deliberate for approximately seven hours before delivering a unanimous guilty verdict on Monday, December 8, 2025.

Key evidence included:

• DNA samples: A DNA sample from a stick at the crime scene was found to be 3.7 billion times more likely to belong to Singh.
• CCTV and traffic camera footage: This tracked the movements of Singh's blue Alfa Romeo, matching the path of Ms. Cordingley's phone.
• Phone records: Further corroborating Singh's presence and movements.

The case garnered significant public attention and an outpouring of grief across Far North Queensland, with community members marching against violence towards women. Toyah's father, Troy Cordingley, expressed the family's enduring pain, stating, 'We now live in a world without Toyah, and it is a poorer place for it.'