A former nurse has been convicted of the murder of Toyah Cordingley, bringing closure to a tragic case that began seven years ago when the young woman’s body was discovered on a remote beach.

The 24-year-old Cordingley was found partially buried in a secluded area of sand dunes in far north Queensland by her father on October 22, 2018.

Rajwinder Singh, 41, was charged in March 2023, accused of fatally stabbing Cordingley at Wangetti Beach, located to the north of Cairns.

During the four-week trial at the Supreme Court in Cairns, Singh had entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of murder, with Justice Lincoln Crowley presiding over the case.

After approximately seven hours of deliberation, the jury delivered their verdict at the retrial this afternoon.

It came nine months after a jury was unable to reach a verdict following days of deliberations at Singh’s first trial.

On October 21, 2018 Cordingley drove to the beach about 40km north of Cairns for a Sunday afternoon walk with her dog.

Her family raised the alarm later that evening when she didn’t return.

Her body was found about 800m from her car while her dog was unharmed and tied up to a tree.

Police claimed Cordingley had died after “a personal and intimate attack”.

The tragedy rocked the laidback community, with hand-made posters soon appearing appealing for information and online tributes pouring in for the “gentle, humble and loving” Cordingley.

Around 350 people packed a small chapel in the Cairns suburb of Manunda for her funeral.

A record $1 million reward was offered by Queensland Police in late 2022 for information leading to the location and arrest of runaway suspect Singh.

Police believed Singh flew to India soon after Cordingley’s body was found, leaving his wife and children behind at Innisfail near Cairns.

Weeks after the reward was announced, Singh was arrested in New Delhi.

He was extradited to Australia and charged with murder in March 2023.

Singh had earlier waived his right to challenge the extradition order, telling AAP in New Delhi: “I want to go back. It is the (Indian) judicial system that has been holding things up.”

“I did not kill the woman,” he said, adding he wanted to “reveal all the details” to an Australian court.

Queensland Police later confirmed the $1 million reward had been paid to a number of people.

“We appreciate the significant public interest in this matter however, information provided on the process is limited as it is obtained on a confidential basis.

“As such we will not reveal specifics of the reward only to advise it has been paid in full to a number of claimants.”