'Distressed' taxi driver accused of murdering Jana Armstrong claims he is innocent - as slain mum's family share brave message outside court

By KYLIE STEVENS, SENIOR BREAKING NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 06:33, 13 July 2026 | Updated: 06:41, 13 July 2026 A taxi driver accused of killing his former partner four months after the birth of their child is 'distressed' and claims that he's innocent, according to his lawyer.  Jana Armstrong, 30, was last seen at a unit on Gordon Avenue in the Toowoomba suburb of Newtown, south-east Queensland, on Tuesday. Her white Hyundai Kona was found in the middle of the road on the corner of Jellicoe Street and Gordon Avenue at about 6am on Wednesday, sparking a search that came to an end on Saturday night when her body was found by pig hunters in steep bushland an hour's drive north of Toowoomba. Indian-born taxi driver Dharminder Singh, 48, the former partner of Ms Armstrong, was arrested early on Sunday morning and charged with one count of domestic violence murder. He fronted Toowoomba Magistrates Court via video link on Monday, where he was charged with additional charges of arson and breach of bail, before he was refused bail to reappear in October. Defence lawyer Ramli Salehkon, from Toowoomba Multicultural Legal Services, told the magistrate that he would not enter a plea until a brief of evidence was provided to the court. A large group of Ms Armstrong's family and friends packed the public gallery for the hearing, including her sister Faith Isaacs. She and her husband will now raise her four-month-old nephew Deshal, whom she held in her arms during the hearing. Jana Armstrong, 30, was found dead on Saturday night, just four months after giving birth Faith Isaacs said that her four-month-old nephew Deshal is motivating her and loved ones through their unimaginable grief Dharminder Singh, 48, the former partner of Ms Armstrong, has been charged with murder 'This little fella (is) the reason why we're getting out of bed every day and Jana, she needs justice, so that's what we're here for,' Ms Isaacs told reporters outside court. 'He's doing pretty good, as good as what he can be - I'm just glad he's in our arms.' Ms Armstrong is the fourth family member that Ms Isaacs has lost in less than a decade, after losing her mother Robyn to breast cancer seven years ago, her father Ron to a heart attack two years later, and her three-week-old daughter Lehara due to complications during birth in May this year.  Flanked by loved ones, Ms Isaacs called on authorities to do more to address domestic and family violence as she paid a heartbreaking tribute to her sister. Ms Armstrong was the 37th Australian woman to be killed this year, according to the Red Heart Movement. 'There needs to be more done around DV and it's just disgusting how many women have died already this year from DV,' Ms Isaacs said.  Singh's lawyer Ramli Salehkon told reporters that his client was 'distressed' but 'okay'. 'My client has co-operated with police investigation… (he) asserts his innocence, this matter will be defended,' Mr Salehkon said. Singh's lawyer Ramli Salehkon said that his client 'asserts his innocence' Faith Isaacs is now caring for her baby nephew Deshal as she mourns the deaths of her baby daughter and now her sister Ms Armstrong (left) and her sister Faith Isaacs (right) had been looking forward to raising their babies together  'My client has rights, I ask that people respect my client's family and his loved ones in this difficult time.' The court heard on Monday that Singh is also accused of 'wilfully and unlawfully' setting fire to a car at Toowoomba on July 8, the ABC reported. He is also accused of breaching one of his bail conditions, which allegedly occurred between June 27 and July 9. Police earlier confirmed that Singh had been caring for their newborn son Deshal since Ms Armstrong's disappearance, including when he was arrested early Sunday. 'He was with a four-month old,' Detective Acting Superintendent Michael Manago told the Today show. Ms Isaacs was one of the last people to see her sister alive when the pair caught up for brunch at a cafe on Tuesday, hours before Ms Armstrong went missing. She had always suspected that her sister had not wandered off on her own. Ms Isaacs is now taking care of her nephew, after suffering another devastating blow just months earlier.  Heartbroken loved ones have visited the scene where Jana's body was dumped Becoming a mother had been a lifelong dream for Jana Armstrong (pictured with her newborn son) A GoFundMe set up for Ms Armstrong’s cousins has already raised more than $53,000.  'I can't thank everyone enough for all their help, searching for Jana, thinking of her, donations, sharing posts, everything, you name it - I have no words, I can't express how thankful I am for all of it,' Ms Isaacs said. 'I want to say a huge thank you to the police, the SES, the detectives, you guys, the community and the pig hunters that found her and brought her home so now we can lay her to rest with the dignity that she deserves. 'She always wanted to be a mum, that was her dream. 'So to only spend four short months with her son — she loved every day, every minute spending time with her son, she was never away from him. 'She was just the most caring and loving person.' Volunteers were preparing to resume the search on Sunday morning before police informed Ms Armstrong's family that their worst fears had been realised. Cousins Lara and Hannah Sweedman visited the scene on Sunday where Ms Armstrong's body was found. Police allege that Jana Armstrong was killed between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning 'We knew deep down she was never coming home to us,' Lara said. 'We are shattered, we are heartbroken, but we are really grateful we get to bring our beautiful cousin Jana home so we can lay her to rest in the way she deserves. 'It's not the breakthrough we wanted at all.' Hannah added: 'The support from Toowoomba and the whole of the community, the whole of Australia, has been phenomenal. 'Now we just have to hope that the justice system takes its course.' A post-mortem will be conducted to determine how Ms Armstrong died. Police allege that Ms Armstrong was killed between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning. Singh is accused of using her Hyundai Kona to transport and dump her body. Dharminder Singh, 48, was arrested early Sunday morning, hours after Jana's body was found Investigators are calling for dashcam or CCTV vision between Toowoomba and Esk, along Esk Hampton Rd and the New England Highway, between 10.30pm on July 7 and 1.30am on July 8. Police revealed on Sunday that there were no previous domestic violence orders in place prior to Ms Armstrong's death. 'I don't think there's anything police could have done to prevent this at all,' Darling Downs Acting Detective Inspector Brian Collins told reporters. 'People in the community would be horrified that a young lady, a 30-year-old with a four-month-old child, has had her life (allegedly) taken - and rightfully so.' Detective Inspector Collins said Singh had initially been questioned by police while search teams looked for Ms Armstrong, and that he had been released without charge. 'He provided a statement as a witness,' he said. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.