Buckinghamshire pensioners' deaths 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.

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 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 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 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.

Crick said the development in the case was “extraordinary and distressing”.

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.”

A resident of Maids Moreton, Betty Cooke, 87, said she had known Farquhar for 17 years.

“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.”