A key person of interest in the brutal murder of dog walker Toyah Cordingley is living as a ‘free man’ in India nearly two years after fleeing Australia.
Ms Cordingley, then 24, was killed while she walked her dog at Wangetti Beach in Far North Queensland on the morning of October 21, 2018.
The pharmacy assistant’s naked body was found battered and bruised by her father the following morning, and her dog was found tied to a nearby tree.
A full-scale homicide investigation was launched after Ms Cordingley’s body was discovered.
But Australian police still haven’t issued an arrest warrant or requested a global Interpol ‘red alert’ for key person of interest Rajwinder Singh, who fled to his native India 622 days ago.
Ms Cordingley, then 24, was killed while she walked her boyfriend’s dog at Wangetti Beach in Far North Queensland on the morning of October 21, 2018. Pictured with her father Troy
Australian police still haven’t issued an arrest warrant or requested a global Interpol ‘red alert’ for key person of interest Rajwinder Singh, who fled to India the day after Toyah Cordingley’s body was found
The pharmacy assistant’s naked body was found battered and bruised by her father the morning after, and her dog was found tied to a nearby tree
Without an official order or request, authorities can’t arrest Singh – who is living as a free man in India, the Courier Mail reports.
Queensland Police have refused to disclose the details of the investigation or comment on why a formal manhunt for Singh hasn’t been commenced.
‘This is a complex ongoing matter in which police are taking an appropriately thorough approach to all aspects of the investigation,’ police said in a statement.
It’s believed Singh nurse quit his full-time nursing job at Innisfail Hospital, abandoned his wife and child and fled to India the day the body was found.
Last year a family spokesman said Singh – who worked as a nurse at Innisfail Hospital – could be hiding out in a Sikh temple.
‘If someone wants to hide, it is easy to hide in India,’ the spokesman said.
‘He could be in any one of thousands of Sikh temples, where he can live under a fake identity and get work, free food and board.’
Pharmacy assistant Toyah Cordingley pictured with her boyfriend Marco Heidenreich
Ms Cordingley’s family and friends have vowed never to give up the hunt for justice
Singh has extended family living in his home town of Amritsan in Punjab state, near the Pakistani border about 450km north of India’s capital New Delhi.
Late last year, Singh’s uncle told 7News that Singh had not been in contact with the family there.
Indian police have previously said they would be happy to search for him – but nobody has officially asked them for help.
Inspector Harsandeep Singh of Punjab Police said they were here for justice and ready to investigate, but even if they saw Singh, they couldn’t arrest him without any order or request.
‘There is no case against Rajwinder Singh in our police station. He is as clean as you and me. For us right now he is a law-abiding citizen of this country,’ he told the Sunday Mail.
It’s understood to be extremely difficult to extradite fugitives from India.
Puneet Puneet, an alleged hit-and-run killer, has been fighting extradition back to Australia for over a decade.
Last month he went missing before a final court appearance.
Ms Cordingley’s family and friends have vowed never to give up the hunt for justice.
More than 100 people gathered last October to unveil a memorial on the anniversary of her death, not far from the spot where she was killed.
Days later, heartless vandals tore down a banner with Ms Cordingley’s face on it on it.
They also tossed trinkets left at the site by loved ones in a nearby bin.
More than 100 people gathered last October to unveil a memorial on the anniversary of her death, not far from the spot where she was killed
Family friend Wayne ‘Prong’ Trimble noticed the banner – which was printed to help catch the killer – was missing.
He pleaded with the culprits to come forward.
‘Does anybody know the lowlifes who stole Toyah’s banner from near her monument in the last couple of days?’ he asked on Facebook.
‘That banner was given to Toyah’s family to hang there. We want it back … Just put it back to save your life if it’s worth saving. I’m pi**ed off.’
Steve Parsonage from the Copy Shop Business Centre printed a new banner to take its place.
He also gave one to her devastated parents, Troy and Vanessa Cordingley.
The site also has a memorial stone and an area for visitors to sit on.