Dharminder Singh, a 48-year-old taxi driver and former partner of Jana Armstrong, has pleaded not guilty to her murder. Singh appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court via video link on Monday, where he was also charged with arson and breach of bail. He was refused bail and is scheduled to reappear in October.
Singh's lawyer, Ramli Salehkon, stated that his client is "distressed" but "okay" and asserts his innocence, indicating the matter will be defended. Salehkon also requested that the public respect Singh's family during this difficult time.
Jana Armstrong, 30, was last seen on Tuesday and her vehicle was discovered the following morning. Her body was found by pig hunters on Saturday night in bushland approximately an hour north of Toowoomba. Police allege that Armstrong was killed between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, and that Singh used her car to transport and dump her body.
Singh was arrested early Sunday morning and was reportedly with the couple's four-month-old son, Deshal, at the time. He had been caring for the infant since Armstrong's disappearance.
Family's Plea for Justice
Armstrong's sister, Faith Isaacs, along with other family and friends, attended the court hearing. Isaacs spoke to reporters outside the court, emphasizing that her four-month-old nephew is the family's motivation through their grief and that Jana needs justice. Isaacs is now raising her nephew Deshal.
This is the fourth family member Isaacs has lost in less than a decade, following the deaths of her mother, father, and her own three-week-old daughter in May. Isaacs used the opportunity to call on authorities to do more to address domestic and family violence, noting that Armstrong was the 37th woman killed this year, according to the Red Heart Movement.
Ongoing Investigation
Investigators are seeking dashcam or CCTV footage between Toowoomba and Esk, specifically along Esk Hampton Road and the New England Highway, between 10:30 p.m. on July 7 and 1:30 a.m. on July 8. Police confirmed there were no previous domestic violence orders in place prior to Armstrong's death. A post-mortem examination is scheduled to determine the exact cause of death. Singh is also accused of setting fire to a car in Toowoomba on July 8 and breaching bail conditions between June 27 and July 9.
A GoFundMe fundraiser for Armstrong's cousins has raised over $53,000. Family members expressed gratitude for the community's support in the search and for helping to bring Armstrong home for a dignified burial.