EXCLUSIVE: It's Time To Move On, Says Bahamas Woman Cleared Of Extortion In Travolta Son's Death
Posted on Sep 13, 2010 @ 02:03PM - 4 comments
Pleasant Bridgewater -- the woman at the center of the alleged $25 million John Travolta extortion case -- has told RadarOnline.com it’s time for everyone to move on with their lives.
John Travolta 'Betrayed' & 'Duped' Me, Claims Man Charged With Extortion
Posted on Sep 03, 2010 @ 08:55PM - 3 comments
The man who allegedly tried to extort $25 million from John Travolta claims the Hollywood actor is “betraying” him, RadarOnline.com is reporting.
Ex-ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne, who is accused along with attorney Pleasant Bridgewater of a plot to extort money from the Grease star, says he has been “duped” by the actor who had promised to drop charges against them.
EXCLUSIVE: Outrage! John Travolta Tried To "Destroy The Life" Of Accused Extortionist, Lawyer Claims
Posted on May 24, 2010 @ 06:54AM - 14 comments
In a interview that is sure to outrage many, the lawyer for the man accused of extorting John Travolta blames the actor for using his power and wealth to destroy the criminal defendant’s life, RadarOnline.com is exclusively reporting.
Carlson Shurland is the lawyer for Bahamas ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne, who was accused of trying to extort $25 million from Travolta after the tragic death of the actor’s son Jett. Lightbourne and politician Pleasant Bridgewater were alleged to have threatened to give the media a document the actor had signed, releasing the ambulance driver and his colleagues from any liability for Jett’s death after Travolta decided to try to fly his son to Florida for treatment rather than have him taken to a Freeport hospital.
Travolta did have his son taken to the hospital after realizing it would be faster than flying him to the U.S. for treatment.
EXCLUSIVE: John Travolta's Alleged Extortionist "Happy" For The Dad-To-Be
Posted on May 20, 2010 @ 07:35AM - Add a comment
The Bahamian lawyer and politician accused of trying to extort $25 million from John Travolta after his son Jett’s tragic death has told RadarOnline.com, "I hope Kelly Preston has a healthy baby."
And Pleasant Bridgewater - who had been accused along with ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne in the shocking blackmail case - believes that she will be ‘totally vindicated’ at the re-trial which is due to begin in September.
Last October Supreme Court Justice Anita Allen declared a mis-trial after a Bahamian politician prematurely announced at his party's annual convention that one of the accused had been cleared – the announcement was then broadcast on live TV and radio.
PHOTOS: John Travolta Arriving at Court in the Bahamas
It was revealed this week that 47-year-old Preston is now three months pregnant with the couple’s third child and controversial Bridgewater claims to be ‘happy’ for the superstar couple.
EXCLUSIVE TRANSCRIPT: Travolta Extortion Defendant Confessed On Video!
She told RadarOnline.com: “I don’t really want to get into their business but if that’s what they want I am happy for them.
“I hope she has a healthy baby and a healthy delivery – I am a religious woman who loves people and would not do anything to harm them.
“I believe that the truth will prevail and that I will be vindicated at the new trial because I know that I am totally innocent.
“I know that I did not attempt to hurt the Travolta family and if the baby is what they wanted then I wish them all the best with that.”
PHOTOS: Jett Travolta's Sudden Death
News of the mis-trial ‘angered’ superstar Travolta who has vowed to expose what really happened following the death of his son 16-year-old Jett on January 2, 2009.
The defendants were alleged to have threatened to give the media a document Travolta had signed, releasing the ambulance driver and his colleagues from any liability for Jett's death after Travolta decided to try to fly his son to Florida for treatment rather than have him taken to a Freeport hospital.
A post mortem determined Jett Travolta died of a seizure during a family vacation at the Old Bahama Bay Resort.
The Pulp Fiction star 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 revealed 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 – during his testimony he revealed that Jett was autistic and suffered frequent seizures.
EXCLUSIVE: Jury Was Going To Convict Travolta Defendants
Posted on Nov 05, 2009 @ 02:25PM - 2 comments
The jury in the John Travolta extortion trial had the necessary votes to convict the two defendants before a judge declared a mistrial, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively.
Pleasant Bridgewater and Tarino Lightbourne escaped the guilty verdict when a Bahamian lawmaker announced Bridgewaterr had been acquitted - while the jury was still deliberating.
John Travolta’s Attorney Accused Of Hatching Extortion Plot
Posted on Oct 06, 2009 @ 12:38PM - 8 comments
The temperature was hot and tempers were frayed Tuesday in the John Travolta Extortion Trial in the Bahamas.
Travolta Testifies About Son’s Death, Says Jett Was Autistic
Two defendants, Pleasant Bridgewater and Tarino Lightbourne, stand accused of trying to extort $25million from John Travolta following his son Jett’s death on the Island back in January.
Alleged Travolta Extortionists Plead Not Guilty
During cross examination Bridgewater’s attorney Murrio Ducille accused Travolta’s attorney and close friend, Michael McDermott, of being the person that actually hatched the extortion plot. McDermott hotly denied the accusation.
PHOTOS: Travolta Heading To Court
Things got so heated at one point that the judge had to step in and warn both men several times about making comments.
In true Hollywood style, when accused of the being the person that gave birth to the extortion plot, McDermott burst out with the line, “You can’t handle the truth! You can’t handle the truth!” Prompting Ducille to retort, “You’ve watched A Few Good Men, eh?”
John Travolta Extortionists Said They Had Evidence He Intentionally Killed His Child
Posted on Oct 01, 2009 @ 12:01PM - Add a comment
John Travolta's attorney and family friend, Michael McDermott took the stand Thursday to testify in Travolta's extortion case in the Bahamas.
Two defendants, Pleasant Bridgewater and Tarino Lightbourne stand accused of trying to extort $25 million from Travolta following the January death of his son Jett.
EXCLUSIVE TRANSCRIPT: Travolta Extortion Defendant Confessed On Video!
Posted on Sep 24, 2009 @ 02:55PM - 2 comments
Tarino Lightbourne, one of the defendants on trial for trying to extort $25 million from John Travolta, admitted on video that he knew he was committing a crime, RadarOnline.com is reporting exclusively.
Click here to read the key pages of the transcript.
RadarOnline.com has exclusively obtained a transcript of a videotaped meeting between Lightbourne, Pleasant Bridgewater and Michael McDermott. Bridgewater was on speakerphone during the meeting and is also a defendant in the trial. McDermott was representing Travolta.
The meeting took place January 20, 2009.
Here is a transcript of one of the key points in the conversation.
McDermott: “You know what we’re both doing here, okay…
Lightbourne: Yes.
McDermott: ...is a criminal offense.
Lightbourne: Yes.
McDermott: Okay. If we get caught, we’re both in trouble.
Lightbourne: Yes.
The transcript also contains a conversation between McDermott and Bridgewater discussing how Lightbourne came up with his $25 million blackmail demand.
Click here to see photos of Travolta arriving in Bahamian court on Wednesday.
Bridgewater tells McDermott: “…he’s probably thinking that he’s going to lose his job cause he’s on suspension and so I guess he—he probably is trying to make it worth his mile – worth his while. I don’t know.”
Click here to read Travolta’s trial testimony about his son’s tragic death.
BREAKING NEWS: John Travolta Testifies About Being Told Jett ‘Not Alive’
Posted on Sep 23, 2009 @ 04:37PM - 1 comment
John Travolta has given his final testimony of the day in the trial against two defendants accused of attempting to extort $25 million from the actor following his son's tragic death in January.
Read about John and Kelly arriving at court
Travolta recounted how Jett was taken to the hospital via ambulance with John sitting in the back with his son, and wife Kelly Preston sitting in the front passenger seat.
He stated that the ambulance driver was the person who also signed the liability release document, a document that is at the core of the trial. Cops say John was threatened that unless he paid a fortune, the document would be released, making it look like he refused treatment for his dying son.
Read about John's earlier testimony
Travolta testified he helped perform compressions on Jett during the trip to the hospital.
Gritting his teeth, he went on to say that Jett was brought into the hospital on a gurney. Travolta said he remained with his son until he and his wife were asked to leave Jett’s side while the teenager was being worked on.
John testifies, says Jett was autistic
A short time later, Travolta and Preston were taken to the rear of the hospital and told that Jett was “not alive.”
Rescue worker reveals details surrounding Jett's death
Travolta stated that he remained in Freeport in four days before going home to Ocala, Florida
Travolta has been informed he will be required to return to court. The date will be decided later
BREAKING NEWS John Travolta Tells How He Tried To Save Jett
Posted on Sep 23, 2009 @ 02:34PM - 5 comments
John Travolta testified that he signed a liability release document without reading it - a document that is at the center of the trial of two defendants accused of trying to extort $25 million from the actor.
After a court recess, Travolta took the stand again in a Bahamian courtroom and recounted more details about the horrible day his beloved son Jett, 16, died.
Click here to read about Travolta arriving at the courthouse
The document is at the center of the case against paramedic Tarino Lightbourne and former Senator Pleasant Bridgewater, who are charged in the extortion plot against the 55-year-old actor. Travolta was threatened, according to police, that if he didn't pay $25 million the liability release document would be made public and it would appear that he turned down treatment for his critically ill son.
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, during Jett's fight for life John considered flying him to Florida for treatment and signing the liability release was a byproduct of that decision, not a refusal of treatment. Travolta quickly changed his mind and had his son taken to a local hospital.
Jon testifies, says Jett was autistic
Taking a deep breath, an emotional John took the stand again after the morning break and continued to talk about the moments before the ambulance arrived, saying he and one of the nannies who works for his family continued to give Jett CPR as wife Kelly held their son's head.
John and Kelly arrive at court
John testified that approximately 35 minutes passed from the time he entered the room where Jett was, to when the ambulance arrived.
RadarOnline.com is in the courtroom and as John testified he looked nervous and emotional, twiddling his thumbs and shifting in his chair. Kelly looked distraught, watching as John revealed the details surrounding Jett's death.
See photos of Travolta heading to court
John then testified that Jett was put on a gurney and taken to an ambulance outside the condo and the nanny continued to do compressions as they were taking him out.
Travolta said he spoke to the ambulance driver and was given a liability release from him, which he signed. He said he did not read the document because time was of the essence.
John pointed out his signature to the judge and jury.
Earlier in his testimony Travolta revealed the details of his son's seizures and for the first time publicly acknowledged that Jett was autistic.
"My son was autistic and suffered from seizure disorder. Every five to 10 days he suffered seizures which lasted 45 seconds to a minute," Travolta testified before a jury of six women and three men.
