Churchwarden who grew up in Harborough loses appeal to overturn his murder conviction after he killed an author to inherit his estate

A churchwarden who grew up in Market Harborough has lost an appeal to overturn his murder conviction after he killed an author to inherit his estate.

Benjamin Field, 30, was jailed for a minimum of 36 years in 2019.

Field was jailed for life after he murdered pensioner Peter Farquhar, 69, in Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire, after he carried out physical and mental torture.

Mr Farquhar died in October 2015.

The killer’s barrister argued the murder conviction was “unsafe” after he claimed the trial judge misdirected the jury.

But the Court of Appeal has now upheld Field’s conviction.

In a written ruling, Lord Justice Fulford said that he, Mrs Justice Whipple and Mr Justice Fordham considered “the approach of the judge was correct.

“The judge’s directions captured the essence of the issue in a clear and admirably succinct manner,” said Lord Justice Fulford.