A man has been arrested in India over the murder of Toyah Cordingley, a 24-year-old woman found dead on a beach in northern Australia four years ago. Rajwinder Singh, 38, was taken into custody in Delhi by Indian police on Friday and is expected to face an extradition hearing soon.
Queensland police commissioner Katarina Carroll confirmed the arrest, stating, 'It was never a question of if, but when this day would come.' She expressed confidence in the case against Singh, who was working as a nurse in Australia before fleeing hours after Cordingley's body was discovered.
Cordingley's body was found half buried in sand dunes at Wangetti Beach, between Cairns and Port Douglas, on 22 October 2018, a day after she went missing while walking her dog. The attack was described as 'frenzied and brutal and sadistic.'
Singh, originally from Punjab, India, left behind his job, wife, and three children when he fled Australia. He was pictured at Sydney's international airport shortly after the murder. The Queensland government had offered a A$1m (£563,000) reward for information leading to his arrest.
Cordingley's father, Troy Cordingley, said, 'While justice will not bring Toyah back, justice is the very least that she deserves.' Queensland police praised the cooperation with Indian authorities, calling it 'exceptional.'
