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Thames Valley Police /PA Wire
UK News

Church warden denies murdering pensioner

by Press Association

PhD student Benjamin Field, 28, is on trial alongside Martyn Smith, 32, for the murder of Peter Farquhar, 69, and conspiring to murder retired headmistress Ann Moore-Martin, 83.

Field, the son of a Baptist minister, told the jury at Oxford Crown Court: "This murder never happened. No-one killed anyone."

He said he was "absolutely" troubled by the "horrible things" he had done to Mr Farquhar, which includes drugging him.

Field lived at Mr Farquhar's home and believed if he lived there long enough that he would inherit the house, the court heard.

Also in the dock is Field's brother Tom, 24 - a Cambridge University graduate who faces a single charge of fraud relating to Ms Moore-Martin.

Field admits deceiving Mr Farquhar and Miss Moore-Martin, who were neighbours in the village of Maids Moreton in Buckinghamshire, into believing he was in a relationship with them both.

Mr Farquhar died in October 2015 while Miss Moore-Martin died in May 2017.

Under cross-examination, Field was asked if he was there when Mr Farquhar died, if he had encouraged the pensioner to drink or had even suffocated him, perhaps with a cushion.

Field rejected the suggestions from prosecutor Oliver Saxby QC, saying he had already left when Mr Farquhar died and he was not there.

Field is accused of gradually making Mr Farquhar and Miss Moore-Martin believe they were losing their minds.

The court has heard his tactics included poisoning Mr Farquhar's food and drink with hallucinogens and neat alcohol, and writing "messages from God" on deeply religious Miss Moore-Martin's mirrors.

Prosecutors claim Mr Farquhar - who was torn about his sexuality because of his religion - died after undergoing a gay "betrothal" ceremony with Field.

Mr Saxby asked Field if he had been "breaking him (Mr Farquhar) down emotionally and physically".

Field said he had caused Mr Farquhar "a lot of misery" but that it was not what he had set out to do.

He also felt it "was not a real possibility" that Mr Farquhar might have been pushed to the point of suicide.

Mr Saxby told Field: "The great thing about drugging him was that with all the alcohol around many people would think he was an old ally - that was your principle purpose."

Field replied: "No, it wasn't."

Smith and Field deny charges of murder, conspiracy to murder and possession of an article for the use in fraud.

Field, of Wellingborough Road, Olney, Buckinghamshire, also denies an alternative charge of attempted murder but has admitted four charges of fraud and two of burglary.

In addition, Smith, of Penhalvean, Redruth, Cornwall, denies two charges of fraud and one of burglary.

Tom Field, also of Wellingborough Road, Olney, Buckinghamshire, denies a single charge of fraud.

The hearing was adjourned to Thursday at 10am.

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