Maids Moreton murder: Church warden appeals against conviction for murdering elderly lover for money

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Oliver Saxby QC, representing the Crown Prosecution Service, said the murder conviction was safe and that drugs, alcohol and “smothering” were all part of a plan concocted by Field. Sentencing him, Mr Justice Sweeney said Field “lived by deception and deceit and had been a well-practised and able liar”. Oxford Crown Court heard that Field moved into Mr Farquhar’s home in the village of Maids Moreton in 2014 and in March of that year they underwent a “betrothal” ceremony at a church. Mr Justice Sweeney said Field murdered Mr Farquhar by covertly giving him flurazepam and making him drink strong whisky, adding: “I have no doubt that, if it was necessary, you then finished him off by suffocating him in a way that left no trace.” He attempted to portray Mr Farquhar, an eminent teacher and author, as an alcoholic in the hope his death would be attributed to natural causes after convincing him to change his will.