Finding tonight's play 'The Sixth Commandment' a difficult watch

21/7/2023:

The Oxford Mail has learned that the Criminal Cases Review Commission has received an application that it investigates the case - with a view to seeing whether senior judges should hear a fresh appeal.

maddyone

I’m puzzled by the jury’s decision to find Field not guilty for the attempted murder of Anne.

Me too. And also puzzled by the role of Martin (Martyn?) in it all.

I’m puzzled by the jury’s decision to find Field not guilty for the attempted murder of Anne.

There is a documentary: C4 'catching a killer - a diary from the grave'

In the C4 documentary he retired on his 50th birthday.

I think you can retire after 30 years service Callistemon pension available from age 55.

Esmay

I watched it last night .
It sent chills down my spine :
I felt really upset when Ben Field forced that elderly lady in the care home to listen to his negative comments .

I also thought that Jonathan Aris was a bit young to retire .
He is a youthful 52 !

I must pay tribute to Eanna Hardwicke as the villain .

I also thought that Jonathan Aris was a bit young to retire.
He looked younger than his boss!!

Policemen used to retire at 48 but I don't think that is the case now.

I found this series compelling and thought the actors were good. I didn't quite understand fully what part Martyn played in Ben's activities though. And why was he found not guilty.
And, yes I agree, it would be good to know more about Ben's background.
I'd like to see a documentary now explaining all these details.

I watched it last night .
It sent chills down my spine :
I felt really upset when Ben Field forced that elderly lady in the care home to listen to his negative comments .

I also thought that Jonathan Aris was a bit young to retire .
He is a youthful 52 !

I must pay tribute to Eanna Hardwicke as the villain .

We watched the penultimate episode last night, when Ben was bailed to the ‘family home’ who were the family, or was I not paying attention?
Last one tonight.

After being rather upset at the end of the first episode I was drawn to watching the rest. Despite it being rather painful at times I did enjoy it. Well acted and well written.

A minor detail, but I thought the chap who played the police boss looked too young for the part, seeing as he was almost retired.

I realise they can probably be in their late 40’s or so, but just thought he looked too youthful.

I think that showing his motives would be guesswork at best. Also, the writer wanted to tell the story from the perspective of the victims, rather than centring the murderer.

Was Martyn in Ben’s thrall too? I think that their relationship could have been explained more, and I agree that it would have been good to know why there was a not guilty verdict for the death of Anne. There didn’t seem to be justice for her at all. I suppose the fact that the charge was murder, rather than attempted murder would explain it, but why was there no attempted murder charge brought?

I was surprised at how long the jury took to reach a verdict. Perhaps they had asked for a lot of the documents to look at. When I was on a jury it only took us a couple of days. If it had taken any longer I would probably have murdered the foreman as his belief was that the accused had probably done something at some time so we might as well find him guilty.

It's probably a bit optimistic to expect to learn much about Ben's background and motives, I wonder if prison psychiatrists got very far with him. Obviously convinced of his own mental superiority though.

eazybee

I would like to have known more about Ben Field and where he came from, what motivated him, was it just money he was after or was it the power and control? There was no attempt to go behind the facade.
I believe his father was a vicar; where were they during the trial?(actually sitting with Peter's brother, but this was not shown.

where were they during the trial?(actually sitting with Peter's brother, but this was not shown. Really?

I think his father was a Baptist Minister.

It was excellent but a couple of aspects were lacking explanation, as you say, his background and also the judge's summing up and directions to the jury, why the jury verdict was not guilty of attempted murder of Anne.

Perhaps some living people refused to be portrayed in the production.

I would like to have known more about Ben Field and where he came from, what motivated him, was it just money he was after or was it the power and control? There was no attempt to go behind the facade.
I believe his father was a vicar; where were they during the trial?(actually sitting with Peter's brother, but this was not shown.

nothing like that

I thought Eanna Hardwicke was exceptional as Ben. He looks and sounds nothing that in real life. Yes I know thats what acting is. But still.

I watched the final episode last night and it was so well done, how each little clue was picked up and knitted in until a full picture emerged.

Ben Field was such a horrible callous individual, but very well portrayed.

I too have questions with regard to Martyn, as onscreen he appeared a very simple and gullible individual, but there was mention of him and changing a will.

Oh good - it’s not just me then.

I have a few questions about Martin

I have a question about Martin, but will wait until it’s all been screened.

Without giving too much away, we watched the final episode last night but I was disappointed not to hear the judge's summing up.

You’re mistaken there BlueBelle. They actually bugged the hotel room they were staying in as their house had burned down.

Ixion and welbeck I think you re wrong I think they do transport prisoners together Do you remember that man who killed his five children by setting fire to the house ( forgotten his name) one of the ways they convicted him were conversations him and his fellow murderer ( girlfriend) had in the police van they were cooking up what they would both say