Kyle Gordon Ordway is on trial in BC Supreme Court in Nanaimo in relation to three offences which allegedly occurred between Feb. 16 and 21 in Nanaimo. (Nanaimo RCMP)

By Ian Holmes

Jury trial

Man accused of beating & confining woman to bedroom of Nanaimo townhouse unit

Apr 11, 2023 | 4:41 PM

Editor’s Note: This story contains details which may be disturbing for some readers. Discretion is advised.

NANAIMO — A BC Supreme Court jury trial heard a man allegedly beat up a woman multiple times in the townhouse unit they shared prior to draining her bank account.

Kyle Gordon Ordway, 38, pleaded not guilty to unlawful confinement, assault causing bodily harm and theft under $5,000 in relation to alleged offences against a Nanaimo woman, Jenny Webber, during a six-day period in February 2021.

This trial allegedly includes involvement of Amy Watts, Ordway’s girlfriend at the time, who he is accused of killing in spring 2021. Watts’ body was found in early June 2021 near City Hall and Ordway will answer to a manslaughter charge at a later date.

Crown prosecutor Neal Bennet opened the Tuesday, April 11 trial by stating Watts was “present and participated in what happened” over the course of nearly a week in which 41-year-old Jenny Webber was confined to her bedroom.

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She managed to escape the Wakesiah Ave. unit after offering to buy Watts drugs, Bennet said.

Webber is one of 10 Crown witnesses expected to testify during the two week trial.

“Some of things I expect her to say include the following: that Mr. Ordway forced her to remain in the bedroom, that he hit her, used a taser on her, burned her with the hot end of a crack pipe and whipped her with a plastic hose.”

Ordway allegedly took Webber’s phone and bank card and forced her to reveal her PIN number.

He is accused of making several withdrawals from Webber’s bank account during the period she was allegedly confined.

Bennet said boxes and other obstacles were placed outside Webber’s bedroom door and stairs leading to the unit’s entrance.

“Miss Webber will tell you how she tried to escape by running down the stairs, fell before she could make it out the front door and how Mr. Ordway beat her and escorted her back to her room.”

Bennet told court several people in the townhouse unit at various points when Webber was under attack and held against her will are scheduled to testify.

One of them reported Ordway grabbed Webber by the hair and dragged her back into her bedroom.

Ordway moved into Webber’s townhouse about two months prior to the incident and she considered him a close friend.

Two days after Webber fled the unit she attended the Nanaimo RCMP detachment and made a statement.

Bruises and marks on her face, arms, back and legs captured in police photographs were shown to the court as exhibits.

None of the allegations against Ordway have been proven in court. He’s represented by defence attorney Tom Spettigue.

The trial is being monitored by a seven man, five woman jury and is overseen by BC Supreme Court Justice Wendy Baker.

Ordway is currently in custody.

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On Twitter: @reporterholmes