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Buckinghamshire pensioners' deaths treated as murder Buckinghamshire pensioners' deaths treated as murder
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Three men arrested over deaths of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin, initially not treated as suspiciousThree men arrested over deaths of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin, initially not treated as suspicious
Jamie GriersonJamie Grierson
Tue 16 Jan 2018 16.39 GMTTue 16 Jan 2018 16.39 GMT
Last modified on Tue 16 Jan 2018 16.41 GMT Last modified on Tue 16 Jan 2018 17.17 GMT
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The deaths of two elderly residents of the same street in an affluent Buckinghamshire village, who died more than 18 months apart, are being treated as murder. The deaths of two older residents of the same street in an affluent Buckinghamshire village, who died more than 18 months apart, are being treated as murder.
Three men have been arrested at locations across the country in connection with the deaths of 69-year-old Peter Farquhar, who died in Maids Moreton on 26 October 2015, and Ann Moore-Martin, 83, who died on 12 May 2017.Three men have been arrested at locations across the country in connection with the deaths of 69-year-old Peter Farquhar, who died in Maids Moreton on 26 October 2015, and Ann Moore-Martin, 83, who died on 12 May 2017.
Farquhar was a Cambridge-educated, retired English lecturer at the University of Buckingham, having previously taught at Manchester Grammar school and Stowe school in Buckinghamshire. Farquhar was a retired English lecturer at the University of Buckingham, having previously taught at Manchester grammar school and Stowe school in Buckinghamshire.
The broadcaster and journalist Michael Crick was taught by him and wrote an obituary for the Guardian – at the time it was believed he had died in his sleep – in which he describes Farquhar as a “powerful personality”.The broadcaster and journalist Michael Crick was taught by him and wrote an obituary for the Guardian – at the time it was believed he had died in his sleep – in which he describes Farquhar as a “powerful personality”.
The deaths were reportedly not treated as suspicious but it was later discovered that both pensioners had been the victims of “substantial” financial fraud believed to have run into hundreds of thousands of pounds. The deaths were reportedly not treated as suspicious but it was later discovered that both people had been the victims of “substantial” financial fraud believed to have run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
A Thames Valley police spokesman said: “The causes of death are yet to be determined.”A Thames Valley police spokesman said: “The causes of death are yet to be determined.”
A 27-year-old man from Towcester, Northamptonshire, has been detained on suspicion of two counts of murder, two counts of conspiracy to murder, two counts of suspicion of fraud by false representation, one count of conspiracy to defraud and two counts of burglary.A 27-year-old man from Towcester, Northamptonshire, has been detained on suspicion of two counts of murder, two counts of conspiracy to murder, two counts of suspicion of fraud by false representation, one count of conspiracy to defraud and two counts of burglary.
A 31-year-old man from Redruth, Cornwall, has been arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder, two counts of conspiracy to murder, two counts of suspicion of fraud by false representation, one count of conspiracy to defraud and one count of burglary.A 31-year-old man from Redruth, Cornwall, has been arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder, two counts of conspiracy to murder, two counts of suspicion of fraud by false representation, one count of conspiracy to defraud and one count of burglary.
A 22-year-old man from Milton Keynes has been arrested on suspicion of one count of conspiracy to defraud, one count conspiring to commit fraud by false representation and one count of suspicion of fraud by false representation. A 22-year-old man from Milton Keynes has been arrested on suspicion of one count of conspiracy to defraud, one count of conspiring to commit fraud by false representation and one count of suspicion of fraud by false representation.
Four properties in Towcester, Redruth and Milton Keynes were being searched by detectives investigating the deaths.Four properties in Towcester, Redruth and Milton Keynes were being searched by detectives investigating the deaths.
Crick, upon learning that the death of his former teacher was being treated as murder, said the development was “extraordinary and distressing”. Crick said the development in the case was “extraordinary and distressing”.
Distressing & extraordinary news. Police have made 3 arrests relating to possible murder of my great friend Peter Farquhar, who died in 2015. He taught me at Manchester GS, & also taught at Stowe https://t.co/GfF1qG3Cnk Prof Stefan Hawlin, the English literature programme director at the University of Buckingham, said Farquhar was “a charming, erudite and deeply thoughtful man. He was thoroughly learned in literature. He was very well thought of.”
Prof Stefan Hawlin, English literature programme director at the University of Buckingham, said: “He was a charming, erudite and deeply thoughtful man. He was thoroughly learned in literature. He was very well thought of.” A resident of Maids Moreton, Betty Cooke, 87, said she had known Farquhar for 17 years.
Villagers in Maids Moreton – population 840 – expressed their shock. Betty Cooke, 87, had known Farquhar for 17 years. Speaking at her home, she said: “Peter was the nicest man you could meet. A real gentleman. He took a man in as a lodger and I didn’t see much of Peter after that. “Peter was the nicest man you could meet. A real gentleman,” she said from her home. “He took a man in as a lodger and I didn’t see much of Peter after that.
“Ann was a very quiet, gentle woman.”“Ann was a very quiet, gentle woman.”
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