CALL FOR CALM AS EMOTIONS RUN HIGH IN HUNT FOR TOYAH’S KILLER
FORMER senior cop and murder investigator Mark Ellwood has urged northern beaches residents to stay calm and let detectives detect.
The appeal from the Palm Cove Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator comes as emotions run high after the violent death of Wangetti’s Toyah Cordingley last week.
“Emotions at the moment are running high and many expect things to be done yesterday,” Mr Ellwood said. “It’s just not possible.” Mr Ellwood is a 35-year Victorian police veteran.
“It doesn’t take a lot of brains to lock up a crook, but it does take a lot of brains to convict a crook,” he said.
“The Supreme Court does not take lightly when you stuff things up.
“Look at the Donna Steele case in Cooktown – it was solved eventually.”
Mr Ellwood said the investigation was likely to be a marathon instead of a sprint.
“This is a police investigation and is something that is going to take a long time,” Mr Ellwood said.
“Sometimes it falls that way and takes a lot of hard work.
“I won’t second guess any of the detectives.”
Mr Ellwood said the northern beaches had yet to “come to grips” with the tragedy.
“I spoke to Toyah’s grandfather last week; you can imagine how he is,” he said.
“It is a tragedy of immense proportions – it is not something the community can take lightly.”
A notice published in the Cairns Post yesterday invited Ms Cordingley’s friends and family to pay their respects to the 24-year-old at the Cairns Funeral Directors Chapel at Manunda from 10am tomorrow.
“Cordingley, Toyah Jade. Adored daughter of Troy and Vanessa. Most dearly loved stepdaughter of Mary Feletar and Darren Gardiner. Loved sister of Jack and Leynah. Loved granddaughter of Joan, Donna, Alma, Robert and Lorinda. Loved niece and cousin. Very much loved by everyone who knew her,” the notice reads.
Ms Cordingley’s father Troy reportedly found his daughter’s body on Wangetti Beach, 42km north of Cairns, on Monday, October 22, after the pharmacy worker failed to return home from a walk with her dog the previous afternoon. Her murder remains a mystery. Police are appealing for anyone who was at Wangetti Beach to come forward.