Crime16 April, 20261 min read
Court Of Appeal Quashes Murder Conviction Of Ex-Church Warden Benjamin Field
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Court of Appeal quashed Benjamin Field's murder conviction and ordered a retrial. Field jailed for life in 2019 with a minimum of 36 years.
Conviction Quashed
Benjamin Field had his murder conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal. He was sentenced to a minimum of 36 years for the murder of Peter Farquhar. Three senior judges ruled that jurors had not been properly directed.
The case was referred by the Criminal Cases Review Commission under exceptional circumstances. The judges ordered a retrial but allowed the CPS to take the case to the Supreme Court. Field will remain imprisoned while any such appeal proceeds.
Voluntary Consumption Debate
The appeal centered on whether Farquhar's consumption was voluntary. Field's lawyers argued there was no evidence he was forced or deceived. The CPS opposed the appeal, stating Field was not a mere bystander.
The judges found the directions effectively withdrew the question of voluntariness. This was a critical legal point that led to the quashing of the conviction.
Fraud and Manipulation
Field admitted burglary and fraud related to relationships with Farquhar and Moore-Martin. He underwent a betrothal ceremony with Farquhar while having other relationships. He manipulated Moore-Martin with messages purporting to be from God.
Moore-Martin died of natural causes in May 2017. Field was cleared of conspiring or attempting to murder Moore-Martin. The case was turned into a BBC drama, The Sixth Commandment.