BREAKING NEWS: John Travolta Testifies About Son's Death, Says Jett Was Autistic
Posted on Sep 23, 2009 @ 12:20PM
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.
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Oregon3. You are an insensitive idiot.How do you know that they have a "bad" gene?Are you a dr. or a specialist? I'm sure that even with his disability that they would not have traded one day with Jett.
Posted Fri, 09/25/2009 - 12:28am
Hopefully they have learned that the two of them together should not try for more children. One of them or both of them apparently have a bad gene. Of course they didn't know that until they started having kids.
Posted Wed, 09/23/2009 - 8:06pm
I though I was a mean old woman in her rocking chair but the saying=there someone out there meaner.leave this family alone
Posted Wed, 09/23/2009 - 2:17pm
AND IF THE DEATH OF A CHILD IS NOT ENOUGH, THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS EXTORSION.......MY HEART GOES OUT TO THIS FAMILY.
Posted Wed, 09/23/2009 - 1:56pm
private people if he had come public with the medical cause of jett the paps have no respect & would have cause more heartache
Posted Wed, 09/23/2009 - 1:53pm
IHis parents do not have the responsibility to turn their son into the poster child for autism. On the contrary, protecting his privacy during his minority was a very responsible parenting decision which should be applauded.
Posted Wed, 09/23/2009 - 1:32pm
There no doubt the parent would have gave up everything to have saved their son life
Posted Wed, 09/23/2009 - 1:30pm
John and Kelly appear to be the real-deal Loving Parents. I believe they loved Jett to the depths of their beings and would have given their own lives for him.
Posted Wed, 09/23/2009 - 1:19pm
wonder what a person would do if they walked in john shoes
Posted Wed, 09/23/2009 - 1:06pm
THIS IS NOT ANYONES BUSINESS.....LEAVE THEM ALONE
Posted Wed, 09/23/2009 - 12:53pm