Jury in High-Profile Down Under Homicide Case Tours Shoreline At Which Deceased Was Discovered

Jurors overseeing a widely publicized Queensland homicide case have been taken to the isolated beach where the young woman was discovered.

The 24-year-old victim was repeatedly attacked with a sharp object and placed in a shallow resting place with minimal chance of survival, the jury has heard.

Her body were found by her father the next day on Wangetti Beach – a stretch of coastline nestled between the popular destinations of Cairns and Port Douglas.

The accused, 41, has pleaded not guilty to killing Ms Cordingley on a Sunday afternoon in October 2018 in Far North Queensland.

Jury Visit to Beach

The panel of 12 individuals plus several back-up jurors attended the location along with the presiding officer and legal counsel on Monday morning local time.

In a acknowledgment of the hot climate and temperatures above 30C, the judge opted for a T-shirt, sport shorts and sneakers rather than a wig and robes.

Both the prosecuting and defense attorneys selected casual shirts, shorts and headwear.

Location Particulars

The court members were guided around three-quarters of a mile along the beach to observe where Ms Cordingley's body were discovered.

Upon arrival, as they arrived by bus, several markers indicated where the vehicle had been parked.

The visit was intended to help the jurors become familiar with important sites in the trial and no testimony was given.

Background of the Case

Last week, the Cairns Supreme Court was informed that the day after Ms Cordingley's remains were discovered, the accused flew from Australia to India – leaving behind his spouse, three children and parents.

He was not heard from until he was apprehended years after, the prosecution said.

Prosecution Case

It is claimed that the defendant, who was employed in healthcare in the community of Innisfail, south of Cairns, had a confrontation with Ms Cordingley.

The victim was discovered wearing a swimwear, with her attire and belongings missing.

Those items were removed by the killer to conceal evidence, prosecutors allege.

Her dog, Indie, which Ms Cordingley had brought along for a walk, was located secured to a post hidden in shrubland about 30 metres from the burial site.

No murder weapon was found, and no eyewitnesses have been identified.

But the state says the crown's case – though indirect – was comprised findings that pointed to Mr Singh "excluding other suspects."

This will involve testimony that DNA recovered from a stick at the location was extremely more likely to have originated from Mr Singh than a random member of the population.

The court has previously been told evidence suggesting that Ms Cordingley's mobile device left the scene after the incident – and that its travel corresponded with those of a vehicle belonging to the defendant.

Mr Singh's quick exit from Australia also suggested his guilt, the state has argued.

Defence Position

"While authorities were discovering Toyah's remains, he was organizing... a hurriedly arranged single journey back to India," the prosecutor said last week as he began arguments.

The defense is has not provided testimony, but in his opening address, Mr Singh's barrister Greg McGuire portrayed his defendant as a "calm" and "compassionate" man, who was in the "incorrect location at the wrong time."

He also hinted at testimony to come later in the trial that, after his arrest, Mr Singh told an undercover officer he had seen two masked men attack Ms Cordingley and then had run away in terror – something he said was his "gravest error."

Mr McGuire has also said he will give evidence about individuals "both known and unknown" who should come under suspicion.

Further Evidence

Ms Cordingley's partner, Marco Heidenreich, whom authorities quickly ruled out as a person of interest, was one who gave evidence previously.

The court was informed he was an initial person of interest – and that he had faced questions from Ms Cordingley's parent about whether he was involved in his partner's vanishing, prior to her remains were found.

Images showing the witness on a walk with a friend on the date Ms Cordingley went missing have been presented to the jury, with an expert saying he was certain the pictures were authentic and had not been altered in any way.

The case will return to the more conventional setting of the courthouse on Tuesday.