Melinda Orchard, Duane Nixon charged over horror alleged kidnapping, torture

A man and woman charged with rape, assault and extortion over the alleged kidnapping of a young woman are named for the first time. WARNING: Distressing content

Melinda Orchard is charged with offences including bestiality and rape over the alleged horror kidnapping and torture of a young Warwick woman.

A pair charged with bestiality, rape, and extortion over the horrific alleged kidnapping and torture of a young Warwick woman are able to be identified for the first time, as the court hears a major update in the case.

Gatton man Duane Edward Nixon and Warwick woman Melinda Maree Orchard have spent almost 12 months in police custody, as they face a list of charges over the shocking allegations.

It will be alleged the couple held a 22-year-old woman against her will for hours in February 2022, where she was beaten and tortured, including being struck in the legs with a metal bar and at times having a knife held to her throat.

During a bail application for Ms Orchard in March last year, police prosecutor Steve de Lissa told the court the allegations contained things he had “never seen in my 30 years with the police”.

Sergeant de Lissa said it was alleged the woman was raped by the couple, with a pit bull at one point used to sexually assault her.

It will be further alleged the pair forced the young woman to leave a false confession on the Warwick CIB message service before letting her go.
She was immediately taken to hospital by others and treated for “significant” injuries.

Mr Nixon’s phone was seized by police the following day, where it is alleged police found graphic videos containing footage of the alleged sexual assaults.

Due to the nature of some of the charges, the pair were unable to be named until the matter was committed to the District Court.

Neither Mr Nixon, 51, nor Ms Orchard, 50, were present in Warwick District Court on Monday morning as their matters were mentioned.

Barrister Jess Goldie appeared in court on behalf of Mr Nixon, with Ms Orchard’s counsel appearing by phone.

The lawyers agreed the matter would be ready to progress to the next stage by the time of the next Warwick District Court sittings in May, with Ms Orchard’s lawyer saying it was hoped the matter would be finalised with a sentence at that time.

Mr Nixon and Ms Orchard have been in police custody since their arrests in February 2022, and were remanded behind bars until their next court appearance.

They each face one charge each of bestiality, rape, torture, kidnapping, extortion, assault occasioning bodily harm, robbery while armed in company, recording in breach of privacy, and assault. Mr Nixon also faces another two counts of rape.

The matters are set to be returned to the Warwick District Court in April.