Toyah Cordingley's killer appeals murder conviction
The man who murdered Toyah Cordingley has had an appeal against his conviction and sentence heard in a Brisbane court.
Rajwinder Singh, a nurse from Innisfail, has had his appeal against his murder conviction and life sentence heard in court. Singh was found guilty of killing Toyah Cordingley, a Cairns woman, in October 2018. The appeal centers on various issues with the trial, including the dismissal of a jury member. The appeals court will deliberate, a process that could take several weeks.
Toyah Cordingley was stabbed and had her throat cut while walking her dog on Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns. Singh's lawyer, Saul Holt KC, argued that the trial was flawed due to the premature dismissal of a jury member without a full investigation, which could have exposed potential bias. The defense also questioned the separation of jurors during an excursion to the beach, arguing that it may have compromised their understanding of the evidence.
However, the prosecution, led by Todd Fuller KC, maintained that no irregularities occurred, and the dismissal of the juror was not improper. The defense also questioned the severity of Singh's sentence, claiming it was excessive given the circumstances of the crime. The appeals court will now consider the verdict, which may take several weeks.
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