Seven years after a vibrant young woman vanished during a Sunday walk, a jury has delivered the final word on a crime that spanned continents and shattered a community.

The conviction of Rajwinder Singh, 41, closes a harrowing chapter defined by a four-year international manhunt, offering a semblance of peace to a family forced to wait nearly a decade for answers. For the residents of Queensland, Australia, the verdict marks the end of a saga that began with a horrific discovery on a tropical beach.

A Father’s Nightmare

The tragedy unfolded in October 2018, when 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley took her dog for a walk along Wangetti Beach, a scenic stretch between the tourist hubs of Cairns and Port Douglas. She never returned.

In a detail that underscores the profound personal tragedy of this case, it was Ms. Cordingley’s own father who discovered her body. She had been half-buried in the sand dunes, a grim find that launched one of the state's most intense homicide investigations.

The Cairns Supreme Court heard harrowing evidence regarding the brutality of the attack:

• Multiple Injuries: Ms. Cordingley was stabbed at least 26 times with a sharp object.
• No Chance of Survival: Prosecutors noted she was left with "little or no hope of surviving" her injuries.
• Concealment: The killer attempted to hide the crime in a shallow, sandy grave.

The Flight to India

While the community reeled from the loss of the beloved animal shelter volunteer and health store worker, the prime suspect was already making his escape. Rajwinder Singh, a former nurse originally from Punjab, India, lived in Innisfail—roughly two hours south of the crime scene.

The day after Ms. Cordingley’s body was found, Singh boarded a flight to India. He spent the next four years as a fugitive, evading authorities while the victim's family campaigned tirelessly for justice. His capture and subsequent extradition set the stage for a complex legal battle.

This week's verdict followed a month-long trial and came after a previous attempt in March ended in a hung jury. When the guilty verdict was read on Monday, the tension in the courtroom broke, eliciting audible cheers and tears from the public gallery.

While the sentence cannot undo the loss of a woman described as "well loved" by her community, it sends a resolute message: distance and time are no sanctuary for those who take a life.