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The family of murdered young woman Toyah Cordingley could finally get justice after two years as an extradition request for her alleged killer is finalised.
The pharmacy assistant’s body was found with ‘visible violent injuries’ on Wangetti Beach, 40km north of Cairns in Far North Queensland, in October 2018.
Her father Troy discovered the 24-year-old’s naked body in sand dunes almost 12 hours after she was reported missing.
Rajwinder Singh, who is regarded as a ‘key person of interest’ in Ms Cordingley’s death, fled on a flight to his native India the same day.
As a result, no charges were laid over the death of the 24-year-old, who was last seen walking her dog along the beach the day before.
No arrests have yet been made over the death of Toyah Cordingley (left) in October 2018. She’s pictured with her father Troy (right), who has ramped up his campaign for justice
Innisfail nurse Rajwinder Singh (pictured) remains a key person of interest in the case. He fled to India on the day Toyah’s body was found
Australian Attorney-General Christian Porter is working with Queensland Police to finalise a brief of evidence before applying to India his extradition, according to local federal MP Warren Entsch.
Mr Entsch said an extensive brief of evidence needed to be completed so the extradition order wouldn’t be rejected by Indian authorities.
He added police were doing ‘the best they can’ and hoped to sign off on an extradition order and send it to Indian authorities ‘in the near future’.
Attorney-General’s office is understood to be waiting on a final draft from Queensland Police.
Mr Entsch is expected to hold a media conference in Canberra later on Monday.
‘This is one of those cases where you have got to be right on the money or risk rejection, and it takes a bit of time to do it,’ Mr Entsch told the Cairns Post.
“We need to get the perpetrator of this horrible crime and have them tried and hopefully convicted so no other family has to go through the horror.’
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she would speak to state Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman for an update on the case.
Authorities are finalising an extradition order to be submitted to India over the death of young Far North Queensland woman Toyah Cordingley (pictured)
The attorney general’s office declined to comment on the case.
‘As a matter of longstanding practice, the Australian Government does not disclose whether it has made, or intends to make, an extradition request to a foreign country until the person is arrested or brought before the court in a foreign country pursuant to that request,’ it said.
Daily Mail Australia also contacted Queensland Police for further comment.
Ms Cordingley’s father Troy Cordingley expressed concerns over delays in the investigation of her daughter’s death.
He thanked the community for ongoing support and urged locals to contact Mr Entsch.
‘We need this person behind bars,’ Mr Cordingley posted on Facebook last week.
Local resident Prong Trimble added on Monday: ‘We just all want justice for Toyah.’
Mr Cordingley paid a heartfelt tribute to his daughter on the two year anniversary of her death in October as hundreds gathered on Wangetti Beach to pay tribute.
‘It seems like yesterday… it seems like one hundred years. I had a million things to say, but now i don’t seem to be able to,’ his emotional Facebook post began.
‘I miss you more than life itself, i would trade places with you in an instant.
‘I am now half the person i used to be, you are my world.
‘You are all the love, joy and happiness i have ever known, you taught me to be a better person.’
‘Without you everything seems pointless. I love you Toyah, my Bright eyes, my world.’
Toyah (pictured) often walked her dog along Wangetti Beach, where her life was cut short
The community gathered at a shrine (pictured) dedicated to Torah Cordingley last week
Another rally was held at Toyah’s shrine last week as the campaign for justice ramped up.
‘Still no justice has come for the family and friends, nor answers for the community who knew and adored this very special young lady, ‘ one resident wrote in a Facebook post to the Port Douglas mayor shared to the Justice for Toyah page.
‘Today a further rally was held in order to bring this crime to the forefront once again.
‘The courage and strength shown by her mum and dad this morning was admirable and needs to be commended.’
Ms Cordingley’s family complained six months ago they still had no answers and all they had been told was Singh was ‘wanted for questioning’.
It’s believed Singh quit his full-time nursing job at Innisfail Hospital, abandoned his wife and child and fled to India the day her body was found.
Toyah’s dad Troy Cordingley (pictured right with his daughter) has publicly expressed concerns over delays in the investigation of her death two years ago
The death of Toyah Cordingley (pictured) has rocked the local community in Far North Queensland
It’s understood to be extremely difficult to extradite fugitives from India.
‘Even if he is found and a warrant for his arrest is released, the likelihood of getting him extradited to Australia will be a very long and drawn out process,’ Toyah’s cousin Rachelle Foss posted on social media in August.
She then criticised Queensland Police for their handling of the operation.
Police said detectives were still working ‘tirelessly’ on the case but faced numerous challenges, and were continuously liaising with the family.
The small beachside community of just 14 houses was rocked by Ms Cordingley’s death.
‘My wife won’t walk around by herself anymore. It’s changed people’s ways, their lives,’ local resident Prong Trimble told Daily Mail Australia at the time.
‘Out at Wangetti, there’s a little township. They were very free and easy living people, and now they’ve all bought security screens and doors, it’s changed the way they lived.’
