Ex-church warden has university lecturer murder conviction quashed
Court of Appeal quashes Ben Field’s murder conviction and orders retrial
www.standard.co.ukHere’s the latest I can share based on recent reporting:
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Benjamin Field, the former churchwarden convicted of murdering Peter Farquhar in 2015, has had his murder conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal and a retrial ordered. This development was reported in April 2026, with judges finding errors in the original trial directions. Source indicates that Field remains in custody while the retrial is considered, and the Crown may take the unusual step of appealing to the Supreme Court before any retrial.[6]
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Related coverage from March–April 2026 notes ongoing appeals and discussions about the safety of Field’s original conviction, which had previously been upheld on multiple appeals, and mentions that the case inspired BBC drama “The Sixth Commandment”. The 2026 reporting also included background on Field’s alleged gaslighting and manipulation of Farquhar to influence changes to his will.[4]
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Earlier reporting confirms the 2019 conviction for Farquhar’s murder and Field’s life sentence, with a minimum term of 36 years to serve, as established at Oxford Crown Court. Subsequent articles summarize the appeal history, including attempts in 2021 and 2022, and involvement of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) before the 2026 Court of Appeal ruling.[3][4]
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Additional outlets covered the April 2026 ruling, with some outlets reporting the quashing of the conviction and retrial order as a significant reversal, while also noting the CPS could pursue a Supreme Court appeal before retrial.[5][6]
If you’d like, I can extract exact quotes, timelines, or create a concise timeline graphic of the case developments up to now. I can also search for more sources or provide a brief summary of the implications for appeals in cases where convictions are quashed and retrials are ordered.