‘Calculating, cruel’ church warden killed lecturer in plot over his will

An evil church warden is facing life imprisonment after being convicted of murdering a university lecturer following a campaign of physical and mental torture.

Benjamin Field, 28, was found guilty at Oxford Crown Court of killing Peter Farquhar, 69, in the village of Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire, in order to benefit from his will. His co-accused, magician Martyn Smith, 32, was found not guilty.

Field’s younger brother, Tom, 24, was found not guilty of a £27,000 dialysis machine fraud by pretending to neighbour Ann Moore-martin, 83, that he was seriously ill.

The Baptist minister’s son showed no emotion as the jury forewoman returned the unanimous guilty verdict.

Trial judge Mr Justice Sweeney remanded Field into custody to be sentenced later following the preparation of a psychiatric report.

Senior investigating officer Mark Glover said Field fitted the profile of a psychopath. “Cruel, calculating, manipulative, deceitful. I don’t think evil is too strong a word for him,” he said.

Mr Glover said Field had taken pleasure in tormenting his victim and torturing him physically and mentally.

Chris Derrick, head of complex casework unit at CPS Thames-chiltern, added: “I think torture is a word that can be used to described Benjamin Fields’ behaviour. He is clearly a very calculating and ruthless man who spent a great deal of time planning what he was going to do.”

The trial, which began in April, heard that Field killed Mr Farquhar by making his death look like an accident or suicide. The University of Buckinghamshire graduate had admitted fraudulently being in a relationships with Mr Farquhar and Ms Mooremartin as part of a plan to get them to change their wills.

He accepted he had “psychologically manipulated” the retired teachers but denied any involvement in their deaths.

Field spiked Mr Farquhar’s food and drink with neat alcohol and hallucinogenic drugs, while also writing messages onmsmoore-martin’smirrors purporting to be from God.

Mr Farquhar, who was torn about his sexuality because of his religion, died in October 2015, while Ms Moore-martin, who was targeted after Mr Farquhar’s death, passed away in May 2017 from natural causes.

Field had undergone a “betrothal” ceremony with gay Mrfarquharwhilealsohaving a string of girlfriends, and was in a sexual relationship with Ms Moore-martin.

Prosecutors said Field had a “profound fascination in controlling and manipulating and humiliating and killing”.

Field had also drawn up a “100 clients” list, including his parents, grandparents and brother, which the prosecution said were future targets.