Image: The Hereford Times

Court Of Appeal Quashes Murder Conviction Of Ex-Church Warden Benjamin Field

16 April, 2026.Crime.9 sources

Key Takeaways

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.
Victim Peter Farquhar, 69, was a university lecturer killed in Maids Moreton.

Conviction Quashed

Benjamin Field had his murder conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal.

“- Published A former church warden jailed for murdering a university lecturer has had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal”

BBC

He was sentenced to a minimum of 36 years for the murder of Peter Farquhar.

BBC

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.

Church Times

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.

“GB NEWS The Crown Prosecution Service may first pursue an appeal to the Supreme Court before a retrial A former church warden serving a life sentence for the killing of a university lecturer in Buckinghamshire has had his murder conviction overturned by the Court of Appeal”