The high-profile Australian beach murder case has taken a dramatic turn after the jury was discharged, unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The case revolves around the brutal killing of 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley, who was found stabbed at least 26 times on Wangetti Beach in Queensland in October 2018. Her father discovered her half-buried body, triggering a nationwide investigation.
The key suspect, 40-year-old former nurse Rajwinder Singh, fled to India the day after Cordingley’s body was found. After years of pursuit, Australian authorities extradited Singh back to the country in 2023 to face trial. However, after two and a half days of deliberation, the jury at Cairns Supreme Court informed the judge that they were deadlocked, leading to the trial’s collapse and an order for a retrial.
Under Queensland law, murder trials require a unanimous jury decision for a conviction. Prosecutors argued that DNA evidence taken from Cordingley’s fingernails matched Singh’s profile, and cell phone tower data indicated his presence near the crime scene. Additionally, Singh's sudden departure from Australia without notifying his family or colleagues raised suspicions of his guilt.
Singh, however, has maintained his innocence, claiming he witnessed the murder but fled out of fear for his own safety. His defense team has challenged the prosecution’s case, pointing out that DNA from an unknown individual was also found at the crime scene, raising the possibility of another suspect.
The collapse of this trial has reignited discussions on Australia’s jury system, particularly the requirement for unanimous decisions in murder cases. Legal experts argue whether a majority verdict system could prevent such deadlocks in future trials. Meanwhile, the retrial date for Singh remains undecided, as the case continues to grip public attention in Australia.。