The grief-stricken mother of Toyah Cordingley has demanded her daughter be given justice as police hit a roadblock in extraditing a person of interest for her brutal murder.
The 24-year-old’s naked body was found on Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns, on October 21, 2018, almost 12 hours after she was reported missing.
There isn’t a day her mother Vanessa Gardiner doesn’t mourn the loss of her ‘joyous’ and ‘spiritual’ daughter, who she says was taken too soon.
‘It’s very difficult, I cry every time I go past because she should still be here,’ a teary Ms Gardiner told 9News near her home in Far North Queensland.
That person is still living his life, she had many years left.’
Nurse Rajwinder Singh, the prime suspect in Toyah’s death, fled to India – leaving behind his wife, child and job as a nurse – the day she was killed.
The Australian Government has issued an extradition request with Singh, who is believed to be currently living near the Pakistani border.
However, the international manhunt recently hit a wall with the Attorney-General’s office confirming: ‘the matter has been adjourned in India to allow the authorities to make further location enquiries.’
It comes as sad news to Toyah’s community in Far North Queensland, who continue to raise awareness for the much-loved and spirited young woman.
How come it happened, why her, was she in the wrong place at the wrong time, which we think she was,’ he said standing at Toyah’s memorial.
Mr Trimble said every time he came to the space it had been adorned with fresh flowers and other trinkets, left by locals determined to bring Toyah justice.
Last June, Toyah’s parents celebrated what would have been her 27th birthday almost three years after she was found dead on a beach with her distressed dog
Mr Cordingley said he ‘chooses to be happy’ and celebrate Toyah’s life on her birthday rather than dwell on her death.
‘I choose to be happy and remember all the wonderful times that we had together. Today, I know that you are with me, so we will have fun and smile and laugh together,’ he said.
Toyah’s mother Vanessa Gardiner also reflected on the past two-and-a-half years since her daughter’s death, sharing her grief that Toyah’s life was cut short.
‘You should have been celebrating with family and friends… drinking your espresso martini and enjoying your vegan chocolate cake and captivating everyone with your contagious laugh and beauty.
‘Not a day passes without thinking of you… We will never give up.’
In March, 2021, Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General Amanda Stoker confirmed she personally signed an extradition request to India for Singh.
‘[The] man is wanted by Queensland Police in relation to the murder of Toyah Cordingley,’ she said.
Ms Stoker said the Australian Government does not typically comment on individual steps taken along the extradition process in an individual manner.
‘However, given the intense community and media interest in this matter, I am publicly confirming that a formal extradition request has been approved by me,’ she said.
‘The next step in the extradition process is to formally lodge the request with India.’
Pictured: Toyah Cordingley
Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said Attorney-General Christian Porter had worked closely with Queensland Police to prepare a brief of evidence for Indian authorities, Cairns Post reported.
‘We’ve got an extradition order agreement with India but a very high level of evidence is required – you’ve almost got to prosecute the case to have a change of getting it accepted by India,’ he said.
‘That’s why it has taken so long.
‘It has been back and forth between Queensland Police and the Attorney-General because you generally only get one whack of this.’
The order does not mean Mr Singh is guilty of murder and the Indian government do not have to immediately send him back to Australia.
While the extradition process can take years, Mr Entsch said authorities are sure to ‘get it right’ to ensure they can ‘bring a perpetrator to justice’.