Conviction Quashed for Former Church Warden Jailed for Murder

A former church warden who was jailed for for the murder of a university lecturer has had his conviction quashed at the Court of Appeal.

Benjamin Field, who grew up in Market Harborough, had been accused of seducing, defrauding and attempting to drive 69-year-old Peter Farquhar to suicide.

Mr Farquhar was found dead at his home in Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire, in 2015.

Field, 35, was jailed for 36 years in 2019 after being found guilty of murder and related offences. However, judges have today ruled that his conviction should be quashed and ordered a retrial.

Ben Field

The Court of Appeal heard that jurors were not properly directed during the original trial, with judges saying the guidance they were given was “defective”.

Lord Justice Edis said the directions had effectively removed from the jury the question of whether Mr Farquhar’s decision to drink whisky had been voluntary.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission had previously referred the case back to the Court of Appeal.

Field’s legal team had argued there was “no evidence” that Mr Farquhar was forced or deceived into taking alcohol or medication.

Field, who went to primary school in Market Harborough and is the son of a Baptist minister, met Mr Farquhar in 2011. After Mr Farquhar’s death, he inherited part of his home and later sold a property to pay compensation to families linked to the case.

A retrial has now been ordered.