Anu Singh was born on September 3, 1972, in Punjab, India. Her parents, Pradyumn "Paddy" and Surinder Singh, were both doctors and later emigrated to Australia when she was only a baby. The family settled in Strathfield, a suburb of Sydney. As a child, Anu was described as a "happy-go-lucky child," but she also had some attachment issues.

Anu attended a Catholic high school in Newcastle, where she excelled in her studies. She was recognized as the dux of year 10 in 1988 and graduated high school in 1990. Following high school, she moved to Canberra in 1991 to study a double degree in Economics and Law at the Australian National University. During her time in Canberra, she started to miss Sydney and began using recreational drugs. She often called her parents, expressing how much she wanted to return home. This longing led her to defer her studies for a year to be with her family in Sydney.

As she grew older, Anu faced challenges that affected her mental health. In 1995, her problems started to escalate. She had an affair with Joe Cinque, and her breakup with an ex-boyfriend, Simon Walsh, was a significant life event for her. Following the breakup, she began using drugs daily, struggled with insomnia, and would often pace the house at night.

During her relationship with Joe Cinque, Anu became obsessed with dieting and her weight. Despite showing signs of improvement at the beginning of their relationship, her issues returned after they moved in together. She stopped attending university regularly and, when she did go, her appearance changed. She seemed disheveled and poorly dressed, contrasting sharply with the pride she once took in her looks.

In October 1997, Anu Singh invited friends to two dinner parties in Canberra. During the first dinner party on October 24, everything seemed normal, and Anu and her boyfriend Joe Cinque appeared to be in a loving relationship. However, after the dinner, it was reported that Anu may have attempted to harm Joe, but did not succeed with her plan. The next day, Anu and a friend revealed to another acquaintance that they had given Joe drugs the previous evening.

Joe Cinque died on October 26, 1997, shortly after the second dinner party. Toxicology tests showed that he had high levels of heroin and rohypnol in his system. On the morning of his death, Anu bought more heroin and later called an ambulance, claiming that Joe had suffered a cardiac arrest. She gave the ambulance personnel a false address, which delayed their response. When the police arrived, Anu admitted to administering drugs to Joe and appeared very distressed.

Anu was arrested and charged with murder a couple of days later. At her first court appearance, she stated that she injected Joe with heroin to prevent him from interfering with a suicide attempt. Her friend, who was also charged, was released on bail. During the trial, evidence was presented that Anu had mental health issues, including a personality disorder. She later claimed that she was suffering from a dissociative state.

In April 1999, Anu was found guilty of manslaughter instead of murder. She was sentenced to ten years in prison but would only serve four years before being released on parole in October 2001. After her release, she completed a master's degree in criminology and eventually pursued further studies at the University of Sydney.

Anu's case was widely covered in the media and inspired several books and films, including Helen Garner's "Joe Cinque's Consolation." The crime and its aftermath prompted discussions about mental health, legal responsibility, and the complexities of relationships.