Question M

[Jonetta]

Britney suspects that Tink is going to leave her and decides to take her life. When Jake shows up and intervenes to stop Kim from arresting her, he throws Britney under the bus and we get to see a sample of how he’d used her to kill those who had rejected his cult. Was he responsible for the murders of Samantha and Tyler? If he hadn’t been killed, should he have been charged and would he have been held accountable?

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I mentioned this in another question/answer. The theme which Angela Marsons has used before of perpetrators being influenced by stronger minds. I'm not in the legal field but I'm imagining if Jake Black had lived he would have been charged with being an accessory for murder.

[Sharon]

Yes he was responsible for the murders. It isn't any different that hiring a person to kill another. Jake was the force behind the murder.

[Robin]

Totally agree. Jake manipulated Britney into these murders. He stressed that everyone that Britney loved left her and told her that she would always have a family at Unity Farm. Then when people started leaving the farm (or were kidnapped), she couldn't handle it.

[Jonetta]

Once he realized she’d murdered her father, Jake knew he could manipulate her for his own means. I’m not sure they could prove it in court as there’s no evidence that he asked her to kill Samantha and Tyler. He was charming and charismatic, quite able to fool a jury. He was definitely responsible but would quite possibly have gotten away with the crimes. Poetic justice that Britney killed him.

[Lynn]

Oh yeah, he was responsible - as much as Britney. He used her as a tool to do his dirty work. If he had survived, I think he would have used his skills at manipulation to beat any charge brought against him.

[Lauren]

Jake definitely manipulated Britany into doing his dirty work for him.

While they might have tried to prosecute him, I doubt it would have led to a conviction. There was no actual evidence that he was involved and Britany was clearly unstable.