Australia - Toyah Cordingley, 24, body found on beach, 22 October 2018 #3

  • #821

Defence resumes outlining five key concepts in Toyah Cordingley murder trial​

“Defence counsel Angus Edwards KC has suggested Toyah Cordingley could have been killed by youth criminals during “a robbery gone wrong”.


Mr Edwards told the jury if there was a reasonable other possibility open that someone else killed Ms Cordingley they must find Mr Singh not guilty.


“It’s not enough if that possibility is one of the possibilities that fits the evidence.

“Even if you think that it is one rational possibility that Rajwinder Singh killed Toyah Cordingley, because if there is more than one possibility open, the law requires you go much further,” he said.


“In the end, to convict him, you would have to be convinced that him being the killer is the only reasonable possibility open on the evidence.”



 
  • #822
Mr Edwards called the investigation “biased” noting Ms Cordingley’s boyfriend Marco Heidenreiach was the step-son of a former Cairns police officer.

“Marco Heidenreich was protected in this investigation, I put to you,” he said.

“Did they search his car? No. Did they search his house? No.

“Marco was a protected species.”



 
  • #823
Defence Counsel Angus Edwards KC has told the jury there was no way of definitively knowing who killed Toyah Cordingley.

Toyah’s parents Troy Cordingley and Vanessa Gardiner left the courtroom as Mr Edwards launched his impassioned final defence for Rajwinder Singh, 40, who is on trial for their daughter’s murder.”
 
  • #824
Not really. He lived in Innisfail (an hour south of Cairns) and was at Wangetti Beach, which is 40 mins north of Cairns. He apparently was a hospital nurse in Innisfail.
There are beaches much closer to Innifail. Apparently Etty Bay is a popular beach for Innisfail locals, just 15 kms away.

He said this ... "had travelled to the beach that day from his home in Innisfail after a fight with his wife, he told Indian police in an interview, according to multiple local news outlets.
He said he was carrying a kitchen knife and some fruit.
Singh had become “angered” by the dog barking and allegedly “stabbed her multiple times”, Indian Express reported, citing investigators.”


But it seems that last sentence has been excluded from the trial, as far as I can tell. And nothing really explains why he drove so far after a "fight with his wife". Or why that beach. Or what he was doing there.


There are plenty of nicer beaches to go to closer to Cairns. As an ex local, nothing would make me want to go to Wangetti Beach, except to walk a dog. Toyah had been to the great Rusty's Markets before she got the dog and went to Wangetti Beach. Did he follow her from there??

And if he pleaded not guilty, they could hardly include his last sentence. But if he was so annoyed by the dog, why not kill the dog. How the dog was left was inhumane. But it was Toyah who was murdered. Guess I am looking at motive, which is not what the jury need to worry about. MOO
 
  • #825
The summing up can take days. I was on a jury panel for murder once and the Judge took an entire day to sum up.
 
  • #826
And if he pleaded not guilty, they could hardly include his last sentence.

I am more wondering why his confession in India hasn't (presumably, or that I have read) been introduced by the Prosecution. I am guessing it was excluded from evidence by the judge for some reason. Maybe they feel it was coerced by the Indian police? IDK
 
  • #827
Mr Edwards called the investigation “biased” noting Ms Cordingley’s boyfriend Marco Heidenreiach was the step-son of a former Cairns police officer.

“Marco Heidenreich was protected in this investigation, I put to you,” he said.

“Did they search his car? No. Did they search his house? No.

“Marco was a protected species.”




Did they test his clothing? Yes.
I hope this is a switched-on jury and they go back through their notes during deliberation.


Sergeant Webster confirmed that a shirt from Ms Cordingley’s boyfriend, Marco Heidenreich, was also tested for blood which returned a positive result from some small stains.

https://www.news.com.au/national/qu...s/news-story/16f2c6eb809a2e9e1ae4f9b0e9185edb
 
  • #828
As an ex local, nothing would make me want to go to Wangetti Beach, except to walk a dog.
100%, except I wouldn’t even walk there with a big dog. The car park and beach are way too sheltered and isolated for me if I was alone. The beach is about 4k’s long and the perfect spot for weirdos to hang out in both the open and in the shadows. But, it’s a great place for a dog to run free, so I can see the appeal for a dog lover like Toyah.
 
  • #829
“Mr Edwards said Mr Singh "saw a murder" and "handled it badly" when he decided to leave the country.”

So why wasn’t Singh cross examined about what and who he saw, and why he took that route home and why her phone was tracked along his journey to Lake Placid before it went dead, and why his DNA was on her fingernails and things at the beach?

 
  • #830
“Mr Edwards said Mr Singh "saw a murder" and "handled it badly" when he decided to leave the country.”

So why wasn’t Singh cross examined about what and who he saw, and why he took that route home and why her phone was tracked along his journey to Lake Placid before it went dead, and why his DNA was on her fingernails and things at the beach?


Singh didn't testify at his trial. No opportunity to cross examine him.

In his closing argument, Prosecutor Crane urged the jury to disregard all of the exciting speculation about murder p o r n and nude people, and focus on the facts.
  • How coincidental it would have been for Singh's DNA to be on a stick in Toyah's shallow grave
  • and with him following another car that carried Toyah's phone at the right time in a meandering route back to Innisfail
  • and a log used to dam the sand around Toyah containing his DNA
  • and his sudden departure from his wife, children, job, and mortgaged home without saying goodbye to his kids, telling his wife he'd be back the next day, not telling his parents
  • his dad flying to India and being unable to find him.

    a.webp
 
  • #831
Singh didn't testify at his trial. No opportunity to cross examine him.

In his closing argument, Prosecutor Crane urged the jury to disregard all of the exciting speculation about murder p o r n and nude people, and focus on the facts.
  • How coincidental it would have been for Singh's DNA to be on a stick in Toyah's shallow grave
  • and with him following another car that carried Toyah's phone at the right time in a meandering route back to Innisfail
  • and a log used to dam the sand around Toyah containing his DNA
  • and his sudden departure from his wife, children, job, and mortgaged home without saying goodbye to his kids, telling his wife he'd be back the next day, not telling his parents
  • his dad flying to India and being unable to find him.

    View attachment 570744
So he’s innocent but doesn’t take the opportunity to explain, provide context, persuade, convince, appeal, or shed far better light on the true assailants? Yeah, right.

If convicted what’s the chances of incarceration here, or could he be sent back to India?
 
  • #832
Did they test his clothing? Yes.
I hope this is a switched-on jury and they go back through their notes during deliberation.


Sergeant Webster confirmed that a shirt from Ms Cordingley’s boyfriend, Marco Heidenreich, was also tested for blood which returned a positive result from some small stains.

Wasn't he helping the search with family over night when she was found? Easy to get blood on himself from that.
 
  • #833
“Mr Edwards said Mr Singh "saw a murder" and "handled it badly" when he decided to leave the country.”

So why wasn’t Singh cross examined about what and who he saw, and why he took that route home and why her phone was tracked along his journey to Lake Placid before it went dead, and why his DNA was on her fingernails and things at the beach?

Very rarely are accused in the witness box. They don't have to. Bayden Clay couldn't help himself and had to testify, against his barristers advice. Was the nail in his coffin.
 
  • #834
So he’s innocent but doesn’t take the opportunity to explain, provide context, persuade, convince, appeal, or shed far better light on the true assailants? Yeah, right.

If convicted what’s the chances of incarceration here, or could he be sent back to India?

I think, if convicted, he will be incarcerated here. I think it is usual to incarcerate internationals in the country of their alleged crime. And then deport them when they are released, if the crime was deemed as serious. (ala Shapelle Corby)


Yes permanent residents will be deported from Australia if they commit a crime and are sentenced to imprisonment for at least 12 months or have been convicted of certain prescribed crimes (e.g. involving children or those of a sexual nature), cancellation of their VISA in these circumstances is mandatory per section 501 of the Migration Act.

 
  • #835
  • #836
Singh is considered an Australian national.


Article from January, 2023

Singh, 38, who is an Australian national of Indian origin, had waived his right to challenge the request by the Australian authorities for him to be extradited to face trial for the killing of Cordingley.”


 
  • #837
Singh is considered an Australian national.


Article from January, 2023

Singh, 38, who is an Australian national of Indian origin, had waived his right to challenge the request by the Australian authorities for him to be extradited to face trial for the killing of Cordingley.”


That news from over a year ago. Relevence now??
 
  • #838
  • #839
I think it means that the only way he could be deported is if they took away his Australian citizenship.
Someone would very likely know more on the subject.
 
  • #840
In case you hadn’t noticed, I like sharing information….
I appreciate the info. I had forgotten that he had Australian citizenship.
 

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