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Jurors overseeing a widely publicized Australian murder trial have traveled to the remote shore where the young woman was discovered.

The 24-year-old victim was multiple times stabbed with a bladed weapon and placed in a shallow grave with minimal hope of surviving, the jury has been told.

The remains were discovered by a family member the following day on Wangetti Beach – a section of shoreline nestled between the tourist centres of Cairns and Port Douglas.

The accused, 41, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Cordingley on a Sunday afternoon in October 2018 in Far North Queensland.

Jury Visit to Crime Scene

The panel of 12 individuals plus three alternates attended the location along with the judge and barristers on Monday morning local time.

In a nod to the tropical conditions and sweltering heat, the judge wore a T-shirt, athletic wear and sneakers rather than a wig and robes.

Both the prosecuting and defense attorneys selected polo shirts, bottoms and headwear.

Location Particulars

The court members were guided around three-quarters of a mile along the beach to observe where Ms Cordingley's remains were uncovered.

Earlier, as they arrived by bus, several red and white cones indicated where the vehicle had been parked.

The trip was designed to help the panel become familiar with key locations in the case and no official evidence was presented.

Background of the Case

Last week, the Cairns Supreme Court was informed that the following day Ms Cordingley's remains were discovered, Mr Singh departed from Australia to India – leaving behind his spouse, family and parents.

He was out of contact until he was apprehended years after, the state said.

Prosecution Argument

It is alleged that Mr Singh, who was working as a nurse in the town of Innisfail, south of Cairns, had a confrontation with Ms Cordingley.

The pharmacy worker was discovered wearing a swimwear, with her attire and most of her possessions absent.

Those objects were removed by the assailant to avoid detection, prosecutors allege.

Her pet, Indie, which Ms Cordingley had taken to the beach for a stroll, was located tied up to a tree hidden in bushland about 100 feet from the burial site.

The weapon was ever recovered, and no one have been identified.

But the prosecution says the crown's case – though circumstantial – was comprised proof that pointed to Mr Singh "and eliminated others."

This will involve evidence that genetic material obtained from a object at the location was extremely more probable to have originated from Mr Singh than a random member of the public.

The jury has previously been told evidence suggesting that Ms Cordingley's mobile device left the scene after the killing – and that its travel corresponded with those of a vehicle owned by the defendant.

Mr Singh's sudden departure from Australia also pointed to his guilt, the state has argued.

Defense Position

"As the police were discovering Toyah's remains, he was organizing... a rushed one way trip back to India," Mr Crane said last week as he opened his case.

The defense is yet to present any evidence, but in his initial statement, the defense attorney the lawyer described his defendant as a "placid" and "caring" man, who was in the "incorrect location at the unfortunate moment."

He also hinted at testimony to come subsequently that, after his apprehension, Mr Singh informed an undercover officer he had witnessed assailants assault Ms Cordingley and then had fled in terror – something he said was his "gravest error."

The defense attorney has also said he will testify about other people "identified and unidentified" who should come under suspicion.

Further Evidence

Ms Cordingley's partner, Marco Heidenreich, whom police excluded as a person of interest, was one who gave evidence previously.

The court heard he was an immediate police suspect – and that he had faced questions from Ms Cordingley's parent about whether he was involved in his partner's disappearance, even before her body were discovered.

Images showing the witness on a hike with a companion on the date Ms Cordingley went missing have been presented to the jury, with an expert saying he was confident the pictures were genuine and had not been altered in any way.

The case will resume to the more conventional setting of the courtroom on the next day.