THE SQUIZ
The man accused of killing young Queenslander Toyah Cordingley has been extradited to Oz. Rajwinder Singh was escorted from India’s capital Delhi by officers from Queensland Police – they touched down in Melbourne yesterday afternoon. The 38yo appeared in court a couple of hours later, where prosecutors said they had DNA evidence and mobile phone tracking data that linked him to Cordingley’s death. That’s something Singh – an Aussie citizen and father of 3 – has repeatedly denied. In January, he said he “did not kill the woman” and would “reveal all the details” in Australia.

GIVE ME THE BACKGROUND…
It’s been almost 4 months to the day since authorities in Queensland posted a $1 million reward for information about the man suspected of 24yo Cordingley’s murder – police say it led to his arrest. And to go back further, Cordingley’s father found her body on Wangetti Beach (between Cairns and Port Douglas) in October 2018. He went out looking for her when she didn’t return from walking her dog the day before. Police allege that Singh, who had been living in the town of Innisfail and was working as a nurse, left Australia the day after Cordingley. Yesterday, Acting Superintendent Kevin Goan said Singh had “fled to India, abandoning his family and his employment” and was in hiding until he was arrested last November after Indian police received a tipoff that he’d travelled to Dehli for a medical appointment. He’s been in custody ever since. Reports say his wife and children have continued to live in Australia.

WHAT’S NEXT?
Singh was remanded in custody after appearing in the Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday. As for today, he’ll face another hearing ahead of his extradition to Queensland today, and reports say he’ll appear in front of a magistrate in Cairns, possibly as soon as tomorrow. Singh’s extradition is a big deal given the 4-year search – Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll last week praised Indian and Australian authorities for working together on what she called one of the most intense investigations in recent years. Yesterday, Cordingley’s father Troy said it was “a very difficult time”, but he was pleased to see progress. “There is still a long way to go, but we are moving in the right direction. I will continue to stay as strong as I can until we reach some sort of justice for my beautiful girl,” he said.