Travolta Extortion Case Mistrial – Bahama Supreme Court Justice Anita Allen declared a mistrial in the John Travolta extortion case after a Bahamian politician prematurely announced at his party’s annual convention on live TV that the two accused had been cleared.
Pleasant Bridgewater, a former member of the Bahamian Senate, and ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne had been accused of attempting to extort $25 million from John Travolta following the death of his son, Jett, at a Bahamas resort in January, 2009.
A post mortem determined Jett Travolta died of a seizure during a family vacation at the Old Bahama Bay Resort.
Travolta testified during the five-week trial that he had tried frantically to save his son by performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while another visitor at the resort helped with chest compressions and used a defibrillator on Jett, who had been found unresponsive on a bathroom floor.
Travolta testified he was told that unless he paid $25 million, the document would be sold to the news media and used to generate stories suggesting he was at fault in his son’s death.
John Travolta testified that his son Jett was autistic and suffered frequent seizures.
Tarino Lightbourne and pleasant Bridgewater were accused of conspiracy and attempting to extort money from Travolta by means of threats, charges that carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Bridgewater was also accused of abetting extortion.
Picewell Forbes, a Progressive Liberal Party member of parliament, whipped hundreds of supporters attending his party’s annual convention into a frenzy after announcing on Wednesday: “Pleasant is a free woman, PLPs! God is good, PLPs! Pleasant is a free woman! God still reigns PLPs!”
Following Forbes’ statement, the party’s convention burst into an impromptu dance to the song, “Oh Happy Day.”
The nine-member jury began deliberations on Wednesday. Twenty minutes before the judge declared a mistrial, the jury foreman indicated jurors needed more time to reach a verdict.
In dismissing them, Anita Allen, the senior justice, expressed concern over possible jury misconduct and whether there had been a premature communication from the jury room.
“We are very concerned in the interest of justice that it does not appear that there has been a communication from the jury room. Justice must not only be done, but seen to be done,” Allen told the jury.
“I am very, very reluctant to discharge you, but in the interest of justice, having heard the views of counsel, we are concerned,” she said.
And that’s the latest news on the John Travolta Extortion Case Mistrial.
Tags: extortion, john travolta, travolta extortion case
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:44 pm
it is a SHAME, The Travolta’s are not allowed to greive for their son, as any normal people could do. but because of their celebratory status, people…down and dirty people…try to extort money from them, for sensitive moments when Jett was dying, or anything else..I am just speculating. SHAME ON YOU BRIDGEWATER AND LIGHTBOURNE. We know politicians will sink to low levels, but you have sunk to the LOWEST. AND YOUR COHERT, PARTNER IN CRIME.,LIGHTBOURNE, SHAME ON HIM, , but I bet he did his stuff at your bidding. May the Bahamian people, see you as you truly are, and oust you from their beautiful island. You belong in HELL, and will be there, when God judges your actions. Leave John and Kelly alone to try to greive, without causing them further grief!!! They are GREAT GOOD PEOPLE, YOU ARE NOT!!!
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Shame on Lightbourne and his low down attorney bridegwater for trying to extort money out of the travolta’s , for as I understand it, a refusal to transport form was signed…maybe….
I am a nurse, when you have tried every measure there is, to try to revive a person, and it hasnt succeeded, after 5 minutes or less, they have lost so must oxygen to the brain, they would be a vegetable if they survived, SO I APPLAUD THE TRAVOLTAS FOR SIGNING A REFUSAL TO TRANSPORT. iF THAT IS WHAT THEY DID INDEED DID.
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Shame on Lightbourne and his low down attorney Bridegwater for trying to extort money out of the travolta’s , for as I understand it, a refusal to transport form was signed…maybe…. HOPE THE bahaminans kick BRIDGEWATER AND LIGHTBOURNE OUT OF THIER BEAUTIFUL ISLAND, AS THEY HAVE BETRAYED IT.
I am a nurse, when you have tried every measure there is, to try to revive a person, and it hasnt succeeded, after 5 minutes or less, they have lost so must oxygen to the brain, they would be a vegetable if they survived, SO I APPLAUD THE TRAVOLTAS FOR SIGNING A REFUSAL TO TRANSPORT. iF THAT IS WHAT THEY DID INDEED DID. We dont know, and you know what ….it isnt our buisness, John and kelly are actors and actress’s, but we have NO RIGHT TO THEIR PERSONAL LIVES. GOD BLESS THEM IN THEIR TIME OF TROUBLES.
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:37 pm
is this thing working?
October 27th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
tie rocks to their feet and throw them both in the ocean. both bridgewater and lightbourne should be punished. you sicken me you PIGS!!