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Strong case for Qld murder extradition

Toyah Cordingley, 24, died after taking her dog for a walk on Wangetti beach, near Cairns, in 2018.

Toyah Cordingley, 24, died after taking her dog for a walk on Wangetti beach, near Cairns, in 2018. Photo: AAP

Queensland authorities are confident their relationship with Indian law enforcement and a strong case will mean a smooth extradition of Toyah Cordingley’s accused killer.

The 24-year-old’s body was found on a Cairns beach in October 2018 after she took her dog out for a walk.

Police believe Rajwinder Singh, who they allege killed Ms Cordingley, fled to India shortly after the death.

The Australian citizen was arrested last week in the Indian capital and is due to face court in Delhi on Wednesday.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said a lot of work had already gone on behind the scenes and she was confident the extradition process would go “very, very well”.

“We’ve been working with Indian police for a considerable amount of time … there is an excellent brief in place and the relationship has been extraordinarily strong,” she said.

The Indian public prosecutor handling Singh’s case told AAP that Delhi officials would pursue extradition with “maximum speed”.

Ms Carroll said a $1 million reward offered for information leading to Singh’s arrest could still be paid out.

“It’s a very, very formal process we’ll go through,” she said.

“Certainly, if the information came through within the criteria that was given out for that reward … (the) government and myself would be very, very happy that it goes to the right people.”

Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan said a strong brief of evidence was needed to get approval from the federal attorney-general for the extradition request.

“I’m hopeful that the Indian court process is as expeditious as possible because of that very good brief of evidence,” he said.

– AAP

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