Church Warden's Murder Conviction Overturned, Retrial Ordered by Court of Appeal
In a significant legal development, a church warden previously sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a university lecturer has had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal, with a retrial now mandated. Benjamin Field, who was found guilty in 2019 of murdering 69-year-old Peter Farquhar in Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire, will face a new trial after judges ruled that jurors were not properly directed during the original proceedings.
Background of the Case and Initial Conviction
Field was convicted and jailed for a minimum of 36 years after prosecutors argued he manipulated Farquhar into altering his will and then killed him by administering tranquillisers, spiking his whisky, and encouraging him to consume it to create the appearance of alcohol-related death. The prosecution contended that Field's actions were part of a calculated scheme to benefit financially from Farquhar's demise.
Prior to the murder trial at Oxford Crown Court, Field admitted to two counts of burglary and three counts of fraud. These charges stemmed from his relationships with Farquhar and his 83-year-old neighbour, Ann Moore-Martin, which were allegedly orchestrated to influence their wills. Field underwent a "betrothal" ceremony with Farquhar while maintaining other romantic involvements, including with Moore-Martin, whom he manipulated through deceptive messages purportedly from God.
Appeal and Legal Arguments
Field's initial appeal in 2021 was rejected, but the Criminal Cases Review Commission referred the case back to the Court of Appeal last year. During a hearing in March, Field's lawyers argued there was "no evidence" that Farquhar was "forced or deceived" into taking the whisky or medication, challenging the causation aspect of the conviction.
On Thursday, Lord Justice Edis, alongside Mr Justice Goose and Mr Justice Butcher, quashed the conviction. Reading a summary of the ruling, Edis stated that the jury directions were "defective" and effectively removed the question of whether Farquhar's decision to drink the whisky was voluntary. He emphasised that there was no evidence Field administered the whisky directly, and the deception, while present, did not establish a direct causal link to the death as required by law.
Implications and Next Steps
The judges noted that the Crown Prosecution Service could take this "unusual case" to the Supreme Court before any retrial, and Field will remain in prison pending such an appeal. In the written judgment, Edis highlighted that the directions also allowed the jury to convict based on smothering without sufficient evidence, further undermining the verdict.
During the appeal, David Jeremy KC, representing Field, argued that his client would have needed to cause Farquhar to ingest the substances involuntarily for a murder conviction, likening it to "causing him to drive his car by handing him his car keys." Prosecutors, led by David Perry KC, opposed the appeal, asserting Field was actively involved in causing the death.
Broader Context and Media Coverage
This case gained public attention and was later adapted into a BBC drama, The Sixth Commandment, starring Timothy Spall and Eanna Hardwicke, which aired in 2023. Field was cleared of charges related to Moore-Martin's death and possession of fraudulent articles, but received a concurrent 16-year sentence for fraud and burglary offences.
The CCRC referred the case under "exceptional circumstances," citing new arguments related to consent procured by deception in sexual offence law, though this was not the primary basis for the quashing. The retrial order underscores ongoing legal complexities in proving causation and intent in homicide cases, particularly where manipulation and deception are involved.
