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.
Mistrial Declared In John Travolta Extortion Case
Posted on Oct 22, 2009 @ 08:55AM - 15 comments
The trial of an ambulance driver and a former Bahamian senator accused of attempting to extort $25 million from actor John Travolta, after the death of his 16-year-old son Jett, was declared a mistrial Wednesday.
PHOTOS: John Travolta Arriving at Court in the Bahamas
Judge Anita Allen said she decided to nix the month-long trial after learning of a juror's inappropriate communications outside the juror room.
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's Attorney Accused Of Lying
Posted on Oct 01, 2009 @ 04:32PM - 3 comments
There were fireworks in the court Thursday at the trial of Pleasant Bridgewater and Tarino Lighbourne, who stand accused of trying to extort $25 million from John Travolta following his son Jett's death in January.
Extortionists Said They Had Evidence Travolta Intentionally Killed His Child
Tempers flared as Bridgewater's attorney, Murrio Ducille, accused the witness, Travolta's attorney and close friend, Michael McDermott of lying.
Travolta Testifies About Son's Death
In a heated exchange Durrio accused McDermott of being an untruthful witness saying that in his statement there is no mention of Bridgewater demanding money.
Things got so hot that Justice Anita Allen had to calm things down telling them both to "lower the temperature" and that "there is no need for this".
Defendants Plead Not Guilty
But things did not calm down and the judge got so frustrated that she put her hand on her head at one point, and then called for a recess to allow everyone to simmer down.
Travolta Extortion Case Evidence Destroyed
Posted on Sep 28, 2009 @ 02:37PM - 6 comments
Things are not looking good for the Travolta family in their ongoing extortion case in the Bahamas.
Exclusive video transcript of the blackmailer talking to Travolta's lawyer
First there were rumors swirling of an impending mistrial due to leaked evidence and now key evidence has been destroyed in the case.
Extortion trial jury selected
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.
BREAKING NEWS: John Travolta Testifies About Son's Death, Says Jett Was Autistic
Posted on Sep 23, 2009 @ 12:20PM - 20 comments
John Travolta took the stand and testified against two defendants accused of blackmailing him following the tragic death of his son Jett earlier in the year.
See photos of Travolta heading to court
The heartbroken actor also told the court that Jett was autistic, a fact assumed by most in Hollywood but never openly discussed by John and wife Kelly Preston.
Click here to read about Travolta arriving at the courthouse
In his testimony he revealed the details of his son's seizures for the first time.
"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.
Click here to read about the defendants pleading not guilty
RadarOnline.com is in the Bahamian courtroom and Travolta was so somber and quiet in reliving his son's tragic death that at one point the court asked him to speak up in order to be heard.
Travolta Jury Selected In Extortion Case
He wore a black suit and silver tie. Wife Kelly looked on as he testified that they were awakened by a pounding on the door from Eli Wheaton, one of their nannies. They were at the family vacation home at the Old Bahama Bay resort on Grand Bahama island. Travolta owns four connecting condos there.
Travolta, 55, said he ran downstairs and found Jett on the bathroom floor. Another nanny, Jeff Katrein, was giving the boy CPR when Travolta arrived. There was also a woman from the resort assisting.
Rescue Worker Reveals Details Surrounding Jett Travolta's Death
The actor jumped in and began performing CPR on Jett. He asked if anyone had called an ambulance and was told one was on the way.
Travolta is on a list of 14 witnesses scheduled to give evidence at the trial of paramedic Tarino Lightbourne and former Senator Pleasant Bridgewater, who are charged in connection with a $25 million blackmail scheme against the actor. Police say the defendants were involved in trying to extort money out of Travolta surrounding a document that purportedly would show Travolta refused an ambulance. But police say the actor signed the document because he was considering flying Jett to Florida for emergency treatment.
Travolta Family's First Public Appearance Since Son's Death
Jett was taken to a local hospital and died January 2 of this year. His death certificate ruled cause of death as seizure disorder.
BREAKING NEWS: John Travolta Takes The Stand
Posted on Sep 23, 2009 @ 10:30AM - 4 comments
John Travolta -- surrounded by security detail -- entered a courthouse in the Bahamas Wednesday morning, a court clerk tells RadarOnline.com, as the superstar prepares to take the stand to testify against two defendants accused of trying to blackmail him following the death of his beloved son Jett.
New Details: Inside The John Travolta Blackmail Plot
As RadarOnline.com has previously reported, Travolta fell victim to a $25 million extortion plot after he allegedly refused medical help for his son who lay dying after suffering a seizure last January.
John Travolta and Kelly Preston Heading to Court for Their Extortion Trial
The distraught superstar is said to have asked paramedics to drive the 16-year-old to an airport so that he could receive treatment back in the United States instead of being driven to the Island hospital only 45 minutes away.
New Details: Inside The John Travolta Blackmail Plot
Posted on Sep 23, 2009 @ 09:51AM - 1 comment
UPDATE: Travolta has been spotted near the courthouse. More details to come. . .
Superstar John Travolta fell victim to a $25 million blackmail plot after he allegedly refused medical help for his son Jett who lay dying after suffering a seizure.
The UK Daily Mail newspaper reports that the distraught superstar is said to have asked paramedics to drive the 16-year-old to an airport so that he could receive treatment back in the United States instead of being driven to the Island hospital only 45 minutes away.
BREAKING NEWS: John Travolta's Tearful Testimony About Trying To Save Dying Son
Posted on Sep 23, 2009 @ 07:15AM - Add a comment
John Travolta has taken the stand to testify against two defendants accused of blackmailing him following the tragic death of his son Jett earlier in the year.
Click here to read about Travolta arriving at the courthouse
Travolta gave emotional testimony about how he tried to save his son after finding him unconscious in the bathroom. He tried to give him CPR to no avail.
