Peter Farquhar was a respected British teacher, author, and lay preacher who was murdered in October 2015 by his former student and lodger, Benjamin Field, following a sustained campaign of psychological manipulation, drugging, and gaslighting aimed at inheriting Farquhar’s estate. Field was convicted in 2019 and sentenced to life in prison. The case raised profound questions about vulnerability, exploitation, and institutional responsibility — especially concerning attitudes toward sexuality in religious contexts.
Who Was Peter Farquhar?
Peter Farquhar (3 January 1946 – 25 October 2015) was a Scottish-born English teacher, novelist, and lay Christian preacher.
He was educated at Churchill College, Cambridge and went on to teach English at institutions including Manchester Grammar School and Stowe School. Later, he lectured part-time at University of Buckingham.
As an author, Farquhar published several novels. His works include Between Boy and Man (2010), which drew on his own experiences and explored themes such as religious faith and sexuality.
Farquhar was also a committed evangelical Christian and served as a lay minister. For two decades he preached regularly at the village church in Stowe Parish.
For many who knew him, Farquhar was a kind, gentle soul — an intellectual who loved literature, faith, and quiet contemplation.
The Tragic Turn: Murder and Deception
The Relationship with Benjamin Field
In 2014, Farquhar — then in his late 60s — formed a close relationship with Benjamin Field, a former student of his from the University of Buckingham. Field moved into Farquhar’s home in the Buckinghamshire village of Maids Moreton.
In that same year, the pair underwent a “betrothal” ceremony in a church — a symbolic commitment which, for Farquhar, offered companionship and solace after years of solitude. In his journal, he wrote it was “one of the happiest moments of my life.”
But behind the façade of love and companionship lay a sinister plot. Field’s motive was not affection, but control and financial gain. Evidence revealed a carefully orchestrated campaign of manipulation, drugging, and psychological abuse.
The Gaslighting, Drugging, and Disposal
Over several months, Field allegedly laced Farquhar’s food and drink with sedatives such as benzodiazepines, encouraged heavy drinking, and created a chaotic environment by moving items around the house to make Farquhar doubt his own memory and sanity.
Prosecutors described the behavior as “gaslighting”: a deliberate tactic to make Farquhar question his perception of reality.
On 25 October 2015, Farquhar was found dead on his sofa, a partly empty bottle of whisky and a glass beside him. The initial inquest recorded the cause of death as “acute alcohol intoxication.” His will — recently changed under Field’s influence — left a life interest in his home and £20,000 to Field.
Only after a second post-mortem in 2017 — prompted by suspicions raised when Field later targeted another elderly neighbour — did investigators detect traces of sedatives, leading to suspicion of foul play.
Investigation, Trial and Conviction
How the Case Unravelled
The downfall of Field began when he turned his attention to another vulnerable local resident, Ann Moore‑Martin, an 83-year-old retired headteacher living near Farquhar. He began to manipulate her, writing messages on her mirrors purporting to be from God and encouraging her to name him as beneficiary in her will.
When Moore-Martin ended up in hospital and reported receiving “white powder” from Field, suspicions were raised. A solicitor alerted the estate’s executors, triggering a police investigation.
This led to exhumation of Farquhar’s body, toxicology analysis, and eventually the arrests of Benjamin Field and his acquaintance Martyn Smith in January 2018.
The Trial and Verdict
At the trial in Oxford Crown Court, prosecutors argued Field had engaged in a long-term campaign of “manipulation, drugging, gaslighting” aimed at destroying Farquhar’s mental well-being and positioning himself as beneficiary to his will.
Field admitted to drugging Farquhar but claimed he did so only to “torment” him — a statement the judge described as a chilling admission of cruelty “for no reason other than meanness.”
On 9 August 2019, the jury convicted Benjamin Field of murder. His co-defendant, Smith, was found not guilty.
In October 2019, Field was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 36 years. The judge described him as a “dangerous offender” whose crimes were “cruel, calculated and devoid of empathy.”
Aftermath, Broader Implications, and 2025 Developments
Restitution, Prison Sentence, and Legal Review
Following the conviction, a confiscation order required Field to sell the flat he had purchased with proceeds of the crime. He was ordered to pay more than £124,000 to the families of Farquhar and Moore-Martin.
In July 2023, Field applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to reconsider his conviction, arguing legal errors in how the “causation” of death had been handled at trial.
As of 2025, the CCRC has indeed referred the case back to the Court of Appeal, citing “exceptional circumstances.” This renewed scrutiny has sparked debate over the safety and permanence of criminal convictions — even in serious homicide cases.
Institutional Response: Safeguarding and Church Lessons
One of the most striking findings in the wake of the murder was an independent safeguarding review commissioned by the Church of England. The review concluded that the church’s policies and attitudes toward homosexuality and careful oversight in parish communities had exposed Farquhar to exploitation and abuse.
The case has since become a case study in safeguarding vulnerable adults within faith communities — especially those grappling with issues of sexuality, isolation, or mental health.
Cultural Memory and Media Depiction
The shocking story of Peter Farquhar’s death and the atrocious betrayal by Field has resonated widely. A documentary, Catching a Killer: A Diary From the Grave, aired on UK television in 2020, chronicling the investigation and trial.
In 2023, the drama series The Sixth Commandment brought Farquhar’s story to a new generation of viewers, as part of a broader reckoning with themes of gaslighting, manipulation, and elder abuse.
The attention has helped shine a spotlight on elder vulnerability, psychological abuse, and the importance of safeguarding institutions and relationships — ensuring that what happened to Peter Farquhar is neither forgotten nor repeated.
Why the Case of Peter Farquhar Still Matters
The murder of Peter Farquhar is more than a crime story or a tragic personal loss. It serves as a stark warning about how loneliness, vulnerability, and trust — when exploited — can have deadly consequences.
It raises broader societal questions:
How well do we protect vulnerable adults — older individuals, isolated people, those struggling with sexuality or identity — from psychological and financial exploitation?
What roles do community institutions, such as churches, schools, and social networks, have in identifying and preventing abuse?
How can legal systems balance a need for certainty with the possibility that key evidence may emerge years after a crime?
As of 2025, with the CCRC referral, the case remains alive — not just in memory, but in ongoing legal and ethical debate.
Practical Lessons: What We Can Learn
For individuals, families, and communities, the case of Peter Farquhar offers painful but important lessons:
Protect vulnerability: Older people, those living alone, or those who feel isolated—particularly people in minority groups or with difficult personal histories—are especially vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation.
Watch for warning signs: Rapid changes of will, new “caretakers” who ask for access to finances or property, or relationships that seem suspiciously convenient may be red flags.
Trust but verify: Genuine companionship should come with openness, respect, and time — not abrupt enticements or pressure to change wills.
Institutional responsibility: Churches, religious institutions, senior living communities, and social services must have robust safeguarding policies, especially where loneliness and trust meet.
The power of posthumous justice: Even when a death is initially ruled “natural” or accidental, ongoing vigilance, re-examination, and robust investigation matters — especially when circumstances are suspicious.
Real-Life Impact: Voices and Reactions
The murder and subsequent media coverage stirred strong emotional reactions. On a popular online discussion about the case, one user in a true crime forum wrote:
“He systematically set out a long-term project to befriend then kill by poisoning. He used everyone’s weakness against them, he tricked, cajoled, used and gaslit.”
Another user — recalling Farquhar as a teacher — wrote:
“A lovely man, soft-spoken, highly knowledgeable and empathic … his ability to see the good in the world was so lovely.”
These sentiments underline Farquhar’s humanity, the cruelty of his betrayal, and the enduring sorrow over a life cut short.
FAQs
Who exactly was Peter Farquhar?
Peter Farquhar was a Scottish-born English teacher, novelist, and lay preacher. He taught at Manchester Grammar School and Stowe School, lectured at the University of Buckingham, and authored several novels. He was also a committed Christian lay minister.
How did Benjamin Field kill him?
Field carried out a sustained campaign of drugging, heavy alcohol encouragement, and psychological manipulation (gaslighting). He spiked Farquhar’s drinks with sedatives and secretly moved items in Farquhar’s home to induce confusion, then left a partly empty whisky bottle beside Farquhar’s body to fake an alcohol-related death.
When was Field convicted, and what was his sentence?
Benjamin Field was convicted of Farquhar’s murder on 9 August 2019 at Oxford Crown Court. In October 2019 he was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 36 years.
Has the case been reviewed recently?
Yes. In 2023, the Criminal Cases Review Commission referred Field’s case back to the Court of Appeal, citing “exceptional circumstances” — specifically, legal arguments surrounding causation.
What broader lessons emerged from the case?
The case highlighted the dangers of exploitation of vulnerable people, especially older or isolated individuals. It underlined the importance of safeguarding in religious and community institutions, and prompted reflection on how attitudes toward sexuality, loneliness, and identity can create hidden vulnerabilities.
Final Thoughts
The story of Peter Farquhar is heartbreaking and cautionary. A respected teacher, writer, and man of faith, he was betrayed and murdered not because of who he was, but because of who he trusted. His life and death remain a potent symbol of vulnerability, exploitation, and the often invisible dangers faced by isolated individuals.
As institutions rethink safeguarding policies, and as the legal system — via the CCRC referral — reopens questions about justice and accountability, the name Peter Farquhar serves as a stark reminder: we must protect compassion from being weaponized, and cherish trust when it’s genuine.
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