Benjamin Field's Appeal: A Controversial Murder Conviction

Benjamin Field, a 35-year-old churchwarden, was convicted in August 2019 for the murder of 69-year-old author Peter Farquhar, who was found dead in his home in Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire, in October 2015. Farquhar's death was attributed to "acute alcohol toxicity," with evidence suggesting Field had engaged in a "gaslighting" scheme to manipulate Farquhar into changing his will. Field admitted to deceiving Farquhar into a fake relationship but denied any involvement in his death. He is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum of 36 years before he can apply for parole.

Daily Mail

Field's conviction has been referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which argues that the original trial judge misdirected the jury regarding the causation of Farquhar's death. During the appeal, Field's legal team, led by David Jeremy KC, contended that the jury was not adequately instructed to determine whether Field had actually caused Farquhar to ingest the alcohol or sleeping pills, known as Dalmane. They argue that the prosecution failed to prove that Field's actions directly led to Farquhar's death.

The IndependentDaily Mail

Field's defense asserts that the proximate cause of Farquhar's death was his voluntary ingestion of whisky and/or Dalmane, not merely Field's act of providing these substances. Jeremy emphasized that the evidence did not support the claim that Field had forced or deceived Farquhar into consuming them. He stated, "Was there evidence that, on that night, Field caused him to ingest whisky and/or Dalmane, and that it wasn't fully voluntary? The answer to that question is 'no.'"

The Independent

Conversely, the prosecution, represented by David Perry KC, maintains that the jury was justified in concluding that Field's provision of the substances initiated a "chain of causation" leading to Farquhar's death. They argue that once this chain was established, the only question for the jury was whether Farquhar's ingestion was voluntary, which could potentially absolve Field of responsibility.

The Independent

Prior to his death, Peter Farquhar was a university lecturer and author who had published three novels. He had dedicated his final book to Field, who later delivered the eulogy at Farquhar's funeral. The case gained further public attention when it inspired the BBC drama series "The Sixth Commandment," featuring actor Timothy Spall as Farquhar. Field's manipulative behavior extended beyond Farquhar, as he was also accused of defrauding another victim, Ann Moore-Martin, out of significant sums of money.

Daily Mail

The judges presiding over the appeal are expected to reserve their judgment for a later date. This case continues to draw public interest due to its complex legal questions and the dramatic elements surrounding Field's actions and motivations.

Daily Mail

• “Was there evidence that, on that night, Field caused him to ingest whisky and/or Dalmane, and that it wasn't fully voluntary? The answer to that question is 'no'.” — David Jeremy KC, Defense Barrister

The Independent

• “Everything that has gone wrong in the case stems from that failure. It led to the misdirection of the jury.” — David Jeremy KC, Defense Barrister

The Independent

• “They argue the jury was entitled to find that Field providing Mr Farquhar the substances started a 'chain of causation' which ended up killing the older man.” — David Perry KC, Prosecution Barrister

Daily Mail