was because his entire thought process was to make Chad appear unworthy in Abigail’s eyes. I think Ben knows how Abigail feels about Chad, and that she’s still in love with Chad no matter how much she denies it, so if he simply killed Chad, it would never erase him from Abigail’s mind or from her heart, but if he can completely discredit him by making her believe Chad is a murderer and completely unworthy of her love, that would accomplish what he really wants to do. JMO!