Man appeals murder conviction in beach killing case

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 07:02 · Archive

A man convicted of murdering a woman on a Queensland beach in 2018 is appealing his 25-year sentence.

Rajwinder Singh, a former Innisfail nurse, was convicted in December 2025 of the murder of Toyah Cordingley, 24. Her body was found buried in sand at an isolated north Queensland beach on 22 October 2018. Singh was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 25 years. The victim's mother, Vanessa Gardiner, was present in court as the appeal was heard in Brisbane on Tuesday.

Singh's barrister Saul Holt KC argued that the murder was 'nothing particular' and warranted no more than the standard minimum of 20 years in custody. Justice David Boddice questioned this assertion, saying: 'If you were walking along a public beach minding your own business and a stranger comes and slashes her throat four times, that's not enough?'

The appeal challenges the conviction on four grounds. Singh's legal team argued that the trial judge improperly discharged a jury member after an accusation of bias against police was accepted at 'face value', and that this risked 'the serious perception that one juror can get rid of another juror with whom they disagree'. The barrister also contended that jurors were improperly allowed to hold discussions in small groups during an official visit to the beach, and that the judge went too far in directing the jury that they could eliminate Ms Cordingley's boyfriend as a suspect based on a single piece of evidence.

How it is being reported

• Mum's tears as daughter's brutal murder faces appealA man jailed for at least 25 years for slashing the throat of a young woman walking her dog has claimed the crime was no more serious than other murders.Perth Now · 13 Oct, 06:50
• Mum's tears as daughter's brutal murder faces appealA man jailed for at least 25 years for slashing the throat of a young woman walking her dog has claimed the crime was no more serious than other murders.The West Australian · 13 Oct, 06:50

In this story: Toyah Cordingley · Rajwinder Singh · Vanessa Gardiner · Saul Holt KC · David Boddice · Queensland · Brisbane · Innisfail

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