Cordingley suspect extradited over DNA, phone evidence

Emily Woods | March 1, 2023

Mobile phone tracking and DNA evidence linking a man arrested in India to the alleged murder of Queensland woman Toyah Cordingley led police to extradite him to Australia.

Rajwinder Singh, 38, will spend the evening in custody in Melbourne, after Queensland Police successfully applied for his extradition to Cairns over the death of 24-year-old Ms Cordingley four years ago.

Police will allege that Singh killed Ms Cordingley in October 2018, after her body was found in sand dunes following a walk with her dog on Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns.

Singh, a local nurse and Australian citizen, boarded a flight to India hours after her body was found, leaving his wife and three children behind.

Queensland Police offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Singh’s arrest in November last year, and Singh was arrested in India later that month.

Police sent four detectives to Delhi on Tuesday to escort him on a flight to Melbourne. 

Singh appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon, wearing all black and flanked by two custody officers, after arriving on a flight from India just after 1pm.

Magistrate Martin Grinberg asked Queensland authorities to give evidence to the court about Singh’s extradition.

Queensland Police Acting Superintendent Kevin Goan said detectives had found DNA and phone evidence that allegedly linked Singh to the killing.

“Investigators are relying upon DNA evidence, which links Mr Singh to her homicide,” he told the court.

“There is some other evidence, including telephone evidence, which suggests the movement of Ms Cordingley’s mobile phone with Mr Singh’s phone, in proximity, that travelled to the western side of Cairns.

“As a result of that, other investigations were conducted, an arrest warrant was issued.”

He said police were arranging for Singh to be flown to Queensland via private air charter on Thursday or Friday.

Mr Grinberg ordered Singh be extradited to Cairns on Thursday. If he cannot get a flight then, he may have to return to the Victorian court for another order.

Singh was remanded in custody and will appear at a court in Cairns later this week.

Outside court, Acting Supt Goan said Ms Cordingley’s family were “overwhelmed but delighted” that the judicial process will soon begin in Australia, more than four years after her death. 

“There is a lengthy process ahead of us, when we return to Queensland,” he told reporters. 

“Toyah’s family has been included every step of the way in this process and clearly they will take some comfort in knowing that the justice process will commence on Australian soil.”