Toyah Cordingley’s family ‘delighted’ accused killer extradited to Australia as transfer to Cairns delayed
The man accused of killing a woman while she was walking her dog on a beach in 2018 won’t be extradited to Queensland today due to “logistical issues”.
Rajwinder Singh landed in Melbourne about midday after being extradited from India to face charges over Toyah Cordingley’s alleged murder.
Victoria Police said the 24-year-old’s family were “delighted but overwhelmed” when they advised there was not a solid timeline for Singh’s transfer to Cairns after a Melbourne magistrate authorised the move.
“There are a number of logistical issues being worked through, when we get the notification there will be a broader publication,” Victoria Police Detective Acting Superintendent Kevin Goan said.
The 24-year-old’s father found her body in the dunes of Wangetti beach, north of Cairns, in October 2018, a day after she vanished while walking her dog.
Queensland Police had travelled to India to track down the former nurse who left the country after Cordingley’s death.
“Our primary focus has always been ensuring justice for Toyah, her family and friends without compromising the investigation,” Queensland Police Detective Inspector Sonia Smith said today.
“We have been determined to find answers for Toyah’s family and the work of all involved has been meticulous since that terrible day in October, 2018.
“It has been a long journey.”
Singh is expected to fight the charges against him.
He consented to his extradition to Cairns.
Goan said there is still a “lengthy process ahead”.#
“There is a sense of relief that we have him in Australia, the extradition proceeding has transpired, and in the coming days he will be charged before a Queensland courts and that judicial process will take a course of action,” he said.
The 38-year-old is an Australian citizen and has a wife and children here.
Police had been searching for him for years, issuing numerous appeals that included vision of him boarding a flight after Cordingley’s death.
He was found in India in November after a $1 million reward was put up for him.
The reward has not been cleared by police.
Police said it would be considered fully “following due diligence”.
During extradition hearings, Singh said he wanted to return to Australia to fight the charges.
