The chilling case of Benjamin Field, the seemingly devout church warden who murdered his elderly gay lover in a calculated inheritance plot, has taken a dramatic new turn. Field, whose crimes were portrayed in the critically acclaimed BBC drama 'The Sixth Commandment', has been granted a review of his murder conviction by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).
A Web of Deceit and Manipulation
Field, now 32, was convicted in 2019 of murdering 69-year-old university lecturer Peter Farquhar in the quiet Buckinghamshire village of Maids Moreton. Posing as a caring companion, Field systematically groomed and manipulated Mr Farquhar, eventually coercing him into a relationship and rewriting his will.
The prosecution detailed how Field spiked his victim's food and drink with alcohol and drugs, creating a narrative of accidental death while meticulously covering his tracks. The calculated murder was part of a broader scheme to inherit Mr Farquhar's £200,000 estate and property.
A Second Target and a Community Betrayed
Shockingly, evidence revealed Field had simultaneously targeted another elderly neighbour, 83-year-old Ann Moore-Martin. Using similar tactics of manipulation and psychological control, he convinced her they were in a relationship and that he could perform exorcisms. While she survived the ordeal, her testimony proved crucial in uncovering Field's pattern of predatory behaviour.
The Dramatic BBC Portrayal and Case Review
The case gained national prominence through the BBC's four-part drama 'The Sixth Commandment', starring Timothy Spall and Éanna Hardwicke, which brought the horrifying details to a wider audience. Now, the CCRC has referred Field's conviction back to the Court of Appeal, identifying a potential issue regarding the specific intent required for a murder conviction.
A CCRC spokesman stated: "There is a real possibility that the Court of Appeal will quash the murder conviction." This development does not affect Field's overall prison time, as he remains serving a separate sentence for fraud against Ms Moore-Martin.
Justice and Closure for the Victims
The Farquhar family has expressed profound disappointment at this development, having believed the case was concluded. Meanwhile, Field's accomplice, Martyn Smith, who was acquitted of involvement in the murder plot but convicted of fraud, continues to serve his sentence.
This case review promises to reopen one of Britain's most disturbing modern murder cases, examining whether the complex legal definition of murder was correctly applied to Field's meticulously planned crimes.
