The Supreme Court of Queensland on Tuesday will start hearing the case in Cairns, about 40km south of the alleged crime scene in the state's far north.
Rajwinder Singh, a nurse from Innisfail, about 90km from Cairns, was charged in March 2023 with the murder of 24-year-old Ms Cordingley.
Police accused Singh of fatally stabbing Ms Cordingley at Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns.
Ms Cordingley drove to the beach for a Sunday afternoon walk with her dog on October 21, 2018.
Her family raised the alarm later that evening when she didn't return.
Her body was found by her father and other searchers half-buried in an isolated section of sand dunes about 800m from her car, which was parked in a camping ground at the beach's southern end.
Her dog was found unharmed and tied to a tree.
Police claimed Ms Cordingley had died after "a personal and intimate attack".
Ms Cordingley, a pharmacy worker, was known within her hometown to be gentle, humble and loving.
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