Jury in High-Profile Australian Murder Case Visits Beach At Which Deceased Was Discovered
Jurors involved in a widely publicized Australian homicide case have traveled to the remote shore where the victim was discovered.
Toyah Cordingley was multiple times attacked with a sharp object and buried in a shallow grave with little or no chance of survival, the jury has heard.
The remains were discovered by a family member the following day on Wangetti Beach – a section of coastline nestled between the popular destinations of Cairns and Port Douglas.
The accused, 41, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Cordingley on a weekend in October 2018 in northern Australia.
Jury Visit to Beach
The jury of 12 individuals plus three back-up jurors visited the location along with the presiding officer and legal counsel on Monday morning in Queensland.
In a nod to the tropical conditions and temperatures above 30C, the judge wore a casual top, sport shorts and sneakers rather than traditional court attire.
Both the prosecuting and defence barristers chose casual shirts, shorts and headwear.
Location Details
The jurors were guided around 1.2km along the beach to observe where Ms Cordingley's remains were uncovered.
Upon arrival, as they traveled to the site, four markers indicated where the vehicle had been left.
The visit was intended to help the jurors become familiar with key locations in the trial and no official evidence was given.
Context of the Case
Last week, the court heard that the following day Ms Cordingley's body were discovered, Mr Singh departed from Australia to India – abandoning his wife, family and relatives.
He was out of contact until he was apprehended years after, the state said.
State Argument
It is claimed that the defendant, who was employed in healthcare in the community of Innisfail, south of Cairns, had a altercation with Ms Cordingley.
The victim was found wearing a swimwear, with her attire and most of her possessions missing.
Those objects were taken by the killer to avoid detection, prosecutors contend.
Her pet, Indie, which Ms Cordingley had taken to the beach for a stroll, was located tied up to a tree concealed in shrubland about 100 feet from the burial site.
No murder weapon was ever recovered, and no one have been found.
But the state says the crown's case – though circumstantial – was made up of proof that indicated Mr Singh "excluding other suspects."
This will include evidence that genetic material recovered from a stick at the location was extremely more likely to have originated from Mr Singh than a unrelated individual of the public.
The court has previously been told evidence suggesting that Ms Cordingley's mobile device departed the scene after the killing – and that its movements matched those of a blue Alfa Romeo owned by the accused.
Mr Singh's sudden departure from Australia also suggested his involvement, the prosecution has argued.
Defense Position
"While authorities were finding Toyah's remains, he was arranging... a hurriedly arranged one way trip back to India," the prosecutor said last week as he opened his case.
The defense is has not provided testimony, but in his opening address, Mr Singh's barrister the lawyer described his defendant as a "placid" and "caring" man, who was in the "incorrect location at the wrong time."
He also foreshadowed evidence to come later in the trial that, after his apprehension, Mr Singh told an undercover officer he had witnessed assailants attack Ms Cordingley and then had fled in terror – something he said was his "gravest error."
Mr McGuire has also said he will give evidence about other people "both known and unknown" who should come under investigation.
Further Testimony
Ms Cordingley's boyfriend at the time, Marco Heidenreich, whom police excluded as a person of interest, was among those who testified previously.
The court was informed he was an initial person of interest – and that he had been interrogated from Ms Cordingley's father about whether he was implicated in his partner's vanishing, even before her remains were found.
Photographs depicting Mr Heidenreich on a walk with a friend on the day Ms Cordingley disappeared have been shown to the court, with an specialist saying he was certain the photos were genuine and had not been altered in any way.
The case will resume to the more conventional setting of the courtroom on the next day.
