Toyah Cordingley Murder Trial: Rajwinder Singh Pleads Not Guilty to Killing 24-Year-Old Woman

Image credits: Facebook: Toyah Cordingley

The trial of Rajwinder Singh, accused of murdering 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley, has begun in the Supreme Court in Cairns, with the defendant pleading not guilty to the charge. Cordingley's body was found buried on a remote beach, Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns, in 2018. The court heard that Cordingley may have still been alive when she was buried, and that she suffered a fatal incision to her neck, as well as defensive injuries on her hands and side. The prosecution, led by Crown Prosecutor Nathan Crane, will argue that Singh was the one who killed Cordingley, and that he attempted to distance himself from the crime by leaving her dog tied up and taking her phone and other belongings.

The trial is expected to run for at least four weeks, with a jury of eight men and four women, as well as three reserve jurors, selected to hear the case. The jury will be taken to visit the alleged crime scene at Wangetti Beach, and will hear evidence from almost 500 witnesses, including police, DNA experts, and telecommunications experts. The prosecution will use phone records to show that Cordingley's phone left the beach after she was killed, and will argue that this is evidence of Singh's guilt. The defense, led by barrister Angus Edwards KC, will argue that Singh is not guilty of the crime, and that the prosecution's case is based on circumstantial evidence.

The case has attracted significant media attention, and the court has warned the jury to ignore media coverage and not to undertake their own investigations. Justice James Henry, presiding over the trial, has also warned the jury to consider whether they know anyone on the list of witnesses, or have prior knowledge of Singh or Cordingley, and to raise any concerns they may have. The trial will continue on Wednesday, with the prosecution set to present its case against Singh. The investigation into Cordingley's death has been ongoing for over six years, and the trial is seen as a significant step towards justice for her family and friends.

The court has heard that Cordingley was a victim of a brutal and senseless crime, and that her family and friends are still coming to terms with her death. The trial will be a difficult and emotional process for all involved, but it is hoped that it will bring some closure and justice to those affected. The use of technology, including phone records and DNA evidence, will play a key role in the trial, and will be used to piece together the events surrounding Cordingley's death. The jury will have to carefully consider all of the evidence presented to them, and will have to weigh up the arguments presented by both the prosecution and the defense.

The list of witnesses who may be called to give evidence includes Cordingley's parents, Vanessa Gardiner and Troy Cordingley, her siblings Leynah and Jack, and her boyfriend Marco Heidenreich. The prosecution will also call expert witnesses, including DNA experts and telecommunications experts, to give evidence about the evidence collected during the investigation. The defense will also have the opportunity to call witnesses and present their case, and the jury will have to consider all of the evidence presented to them before reaching a verdict. The trial is expected to be a complex and challenging process, but it is hoped that it will ultimately bring justice to Cordingley and her loved ones.