The BBC's four-part true-crime drama 'The Sixth Commandment' has been branded a must-watch by viewers after Benjamin Field's murder conviction for killing Peter Farquhar was quashed earlier this year. The series, which examines the death of former Manchester Grammar School teacher Peter Farquhar, originally aired in 2023 and has gained renewed attention following the legal developments.
Plot and Cast
The official synopsis of the dramatised series states: "While poignantly highlighting the devastating effect of isolation and loneliness, as Field closed in on them, it also celebrates both Peter and Ann’s lives as cherished mentors, much loved relatives and adored friends." Éanna Hardwicke portrays Benjamin Field, alongside Timothy Spall and Anne Reid as victims Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin. The extended cast includes Sheila Hancock, Annabel Scholey, and Ben Bailey Smith. The series was written by Sarah Phelps and directed by Saul Dibb.
Awards and Critical Reception
'The Sixth Commandment' won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Limited Drama in 2024, and Timothy Spall received the Leading Actor award for his role. The series has scored an impressive 90% on the review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes. Viewers have hailed it as a must-watch after Field's conviction was quashed following his second appeal.
The Case of Benjamin Field
Benjamin Field was jailed for at least 36 years in 2019 after being found guilty of murdering 69-year-old Peter Farquhar in Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire. Mr Farquhar had been an English teacher at Manchester Grammar School in the early 1970s and lived in Manchester for over a decade. Prosecutors stated that Field manipulated Mr Farquhar into believing he was losing his mind to inherit his house and money, secretly giving him tranquiliser drugs and spiking his whisky to make his death in 2015 appear as suicide or an accident.
Ann Moore-Martin Case
Field also pursued Ann Moore-Martin in a similar manner, moving into her home and attempting to convince her to give him money by writing messages on her mirrors apparently from God. Police were alerted to Field's behaviour in 2017 when Ann was hospitalised after a seizure; she died of natural causes in May of that year. Field received a concurrent 16-year jail term for admitting fraud and burglary offences related to both victims.
Conviction Quashed
The case was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission last year. During a hearing in March, Field's lawyers argued there was "no evidence" that Mr Farquhar was "forced or deceived" into taking the whisky or medication. In a ruling in April, three senior judges quashed the conviction and ordered a retrial. Lord Justice Edis, sitting with Mr Justice Goose and Mr Justice Butcher, stated that the jurors at trial had "not been properly directed" and the directions given were "defective." Field will remain in prison "for so long as the appeal (to the Supreme Court) is pending."
Streaming Availability
All episodes of 'The Sixth Commandment' are available to stream on BBC iPlayer. The series first aired in 2023 and continues to draw viewers following the recent legal developments.
