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

[JLZ]

Thanks, somehow I had missed that part ….. as that is what I was expecting to come out at the trial …… why wasn’t the prosecution shouting this from the rooftops??? Especially in summing up???


Is a DNA “profile” match the same as ,an exact DNA match???


From your article above…

A sample taken from Ms Cordingley's right fingernails matched the profile of Mr Singh, the court heard.

Snip

The tests looked at 27 genetic markers and compared the DNA profiles from the samples to those of Mr Singh and Ms Cordingley's boyfriend Mr Heidenreich.

At school we were told that an individual's DNA is unique in the history of humanity, except in the case of identical twins. Law enforcement doesn't compare DNA at that level of detail. A profile isn't the whole story, but is considered forensically very adequate.

I thought this was interesting & informative, notwithstanding the NSW orientation: DNA - Analysis and Probability Have a look under the heading 'R v Milat'.

 

[SLouTh]

At school we were told that an individual's DNA is unique in the history of humanity, except in the case of identical twins. Law enforcement doesn't compare DNA at that level of detail. A profile isn't the whole story, but is considered forensically very adequate.

I thought this was interesting & informative, notwithstanding the NSW orientation: DNA - Analysis and Probability Have a look under the heading 'R v Milat'.

Thanks, great resource….

I was thinking along the lines of Heidenreich being of German descent, versus Singh of Indian descent, that it would be expected that genetic markers / profile would NOT match ….(as per the article and described in court ..)

Where as, we don’t know the genetic origin of the “grey car driver” .. Is it possible that he / she may also match the “profile” ???

Jury hears covert recording of Toyah Cordingley's accused killer

A jury has heard an undercover recording of the man accused of a Queensland woman's violent beachside murder, in which he says he witnessed the "killers" and ran for his life.

www.abc.net.au

Heidenreich - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[SouthAussie]

A Cairns Post article from this morning tells Australia who Toyah was. Much of this was spoken to the court, by friends and family at the trial.

- a health and wellness advocate, an animal lover, a daughter, sister, and friend
- has a brother and a sister
- was on the phone with her sister on the day Toyah died, offering her a dress and making arrangements to get the dress to her sister
- texted with her dad on the day she died, Toyah and her dad often would walk together on Sunday mornings
- fiercely loyal to her friends and her pets
- generous, affectionate and deeply concerned with the happiness of her friends, boyfriend and family.

Toya would now be 32 years old.


(paraphrased)
Who is Toyah Cordingley?

 

[SouthAussie]

At the hearing next Wednesday, they will discuss the timing of a retrial .... and a possible bail application for Singh. (Hopefully the judge remembers he is a proven flight risk.)

There is a possibility that a retrial might be able to be slotted in for September, as per the judge, but the court calendar is really full for the rest of the year.

Justice Henry asked the lawyers their thoughts about a retrial in Cairns, or elsewhere. As many Cairns people will now know a lot of the evidence. Neither lawyer had a problem with a retrial in Cairns.

They did not discuss the prospect of a judge only trial, which is permissible upon application by either lawyer.

(paraphrased)
Lawyers for Rajwinder Singh and the Crown to meet next Wednesday following hung jury in Toyah Cordingley murder trial

 

[SouthAussie]

This 3rd Cairns Post article from today is about Singh's lawyer.


- Angus Edwards KC represented Brett Cowan at his trial for the murder of Daniel Morcombe
- In 2018 he represented Webbstar Latu, one of the seven defendants in the Queensland ‘toolbox murders’ trial
- He represented Garry Brush, the alleged Lone Wolf bikie, in the 2019 Gold Coast killings of Shane Ross and Cameron Martin
- In 2024 he represented Benjamin Charles Johnson over the killing of Jakob Opacic, brother of former NRL player Tom Opacic. He was up against Nathan Crane, Toyah's prosecutor, in that trial.

(My note, he lost all of the above high profile cases)

He is known for his ability to call into question police investigations and present alternative possibilities to the jury.
He is a barrister at Lucas Chambers, Brisbane ... and has worked as a defence barrister and a Crown Prosecutor during his career

(paraphrased)
Who is Rajwinder Singh’s lawyer Angus Edwards KC?

 

[BreakingNews]

Australian True Crime podcast by Mischel Lawrie has a brief discussion about Toyah.

 

[drsleuth]

Seven-month wait for retrial in Toyah Cordingley murder case

Former nurse Rajwinder Singh wants a top criminal silk to represent him as he fights allegations he murdered a 24-year-old woman on a Far North Queensland beach.

www.abc.net.au

Rajwinder Singh set to face retrial over alleged murder of Toyah Cordingley​

A man accused of the October 2018 murder of Queensland woman Toyah Cordingley is due to stand trial for a second time in November.

Justice James Henry on Wednesday set down a start date of November 10 for a retrial.

He said there was a "broader public interest in a prompt trial".

Defence calls for retrial next year​

It came after defence solicitor Nick Dore sought a trial listing date in February 2026 "when we know we have a senior and junior [barrister] available".

Mr Dore told the court Mr Singh's preference was to be represented at trial by elite criminal barrister Saul Holt, KC.

Mr Holt was initially briefed in the case before another silk, Angus Edwards, KC took over in 2024 when the case was originally listed for trial.

Mr Edwards and fellow barrister Brydie Bilic — who together represented Mr Singh at his first trial — would not appear for him in the retrial, Mr Dore told the court.


More at link

 

[Marg944]

From drsleuth’s link above….

“The case will be reviewed on June 19 so that Crown Prosecutor, Nathan Crane, and Mr Singh’s defence can raise any issues about jury selection.”


“Mr Singh did not appear in person or by videolink and no application was made for bail.


He was remanded in custody.”

 

[BreakingNews]

Seven-month wait for retrial in Toyah Cordingley murder case

Former nurse Rajwinder Singh wants a top criminal silk to represent him as he fights allegations he murdered a 24-year-old woman on a Far North Queensland beach.

www.abc.net.au

Rajwinder Singh set to face retrial over alleged murder of Toyah Cordingley​

A man accused of the October 2018 murder of Queensland woman Toyah Cordingley is due to stand trial for a second time in November.

Justice James Henry on Wednesday set down a start date of November 10 for a retrial.

He said there was a "broader public interest in a prompt trial".

Defence calls for retrial next year​

It came after defence solicitor Nick Dore sought a trial listing date in February 2026 "when we know we have a senior and junior [barrister] available".

Mr Dore told the court Mr Singh's preference was to be represented at trial by elite criminal barrister Saul Holt, KC.

Mr Holt was initially briefed in the case before another silk, Angus Edwards, KC took over in 2024 when the case was originally listed for trial.

Mr Edwards and fellow barrister Brydie Bilic — who together represented Mr Singh at his first trial — would not appear for him in the retrial, Mr Dore told the court.


More at link

Interesting in need to change barristers.

 

[SLouTh]

Interesting in need to change barristers.

Just a guess, but he probably has some hope after the initial jury was hung, and wants a top criminal KC to attempt to find reasonable doubt …..

I read an article recently regarding a trial in Australia…. (I wish I had saved it) but basically it was saying that all trials come down to whose version is more believable? The prosecution or the defence….. who can tell the best story to fit the evidence or whose story creates the most doubt …. Especially in cases that have no evidence of the crime being committed in real time… eg no CCTV of the crime while it happened.
Perhaps he thinks the new KC is better at “story telling” ???

I also wondered if his current barrister may have already been booked for another trial at the time ….??

IMO

 

[JLZ]

Just a guess, but he probably has some hope after the initial jury was hung, and wants a top criminal KC to attempt to find reasonable doubt …..

I read an article recently regarding a trial in Australia…. (I wish I had saved it) but basically it was saying that all trials come down to whose version is more believable? The prosecution or the defence….. who can tell the best story to fit the evidence or whose story creates the most doubt …. Especially in cases that have no evidence of the crime being committed in real time… eg no CCTV of the crime while it happened.
Perhaps he thinks the new KC is better at “story telling” ???

I also wondered if his current barrister may have already been booked for another trial at the time ….??

IMO

It sounds like Mr Holt was the original preference and Mr Edwards was a compromise. Now that RS has another chance he's again keen for Mr Holt.

 

[Deleted member 367982]

Does anyone know if police have closed their books in this case and have put all their eggs in one basket so to speak thinking they have caught the person who murdered Toya?
Have they got a contingency plan in case the retrial returns a not guilty verdict?

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Chronology of a Murder Part 1: From Cairns to Wangetti

Chronology of a Murder Part 1: From Cairns to Wangetti

www.newsport.com.au

Chronology of a Murder Part 2: The Port Douglas connection

Chronology of a Murder Part 2: The Port Douglas connection

www.newsport.com.au

Chronology of a Murder Part 3: The killing of Toyah Cordingley

www.newsport.com.au

Chronology of a Murder The killing of Toyah Cordingley​

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[Rocket333]

Chronology of a Murder Part 1: From Cairns to Wangetti

Chronology of a Murder Part 1: From Cairns to Wangetti

www.newsport.com.au

Chronology of a Murder Part 2: The Port Douglas connection

Chronology of a Murder Part 2: The Port Douglas connection

www.newsport.com.au

Chronology of a Murder Part 3: The killing of Toyah Cordingley

www.newsport.com.au

Chronology of a Murder The killing of Toyah Cordingley​

​

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Thanks for that Tootsie. Singh was there, said he witnessed it, had her phone with him when he left Wangetti, his DNA was under her fingernails, and he fled to India on a one way ticket the next day leaving his dependent wife and very young children to cope alone. It’s always seemed clear to me that Singh’s presence, actions, and flight pattern were not just suspicious but uniquely incriminating. He had her phone with him in his car after she had died which at the very least means he assumed possession of it from her. I hope that they can clearly dismiss and disprove the other loose “suspects” next time and show much more strongly that no one else fits the evidence or the bill.