This is the second time that a Lostie was approached by an Other and told that people didn't like the way Ben was doing things. In this case, Richard was just a little more subtle than Juliette. However, this could have been the way they wanted Lockes dad to die all along. It would fit with the whole manipulation thing and how they manage to justify what they do as long as they con someone else into doing it for them. Does Ben really see Locke as competition and doesn't want him around? Or is this exactly what he wanted? At this point I think it's a toss up.