Mistrial Declared In John Travolta Extortion Case

Posted on Oct 22, 2009 @ 08:55AM

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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.

At a rally Wednesday night for the Bahamas' Progressive Liberal Party, a crowd member announced that one of the accused extortionists, (party member) Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater, was "free at last," tipping the judge to potential information leaks.

EXCLUSIVE TRANSCRIPT: Travolta Extortion Defendant Confessed On Video!

"About two hours ago, there was an announcement at a particular political party," Allen said. "It leaves the impression that there may have been a communication in the jury room. I am going to discharge you from returning your verdict."

Travolta said he was "upset," but will "continue to cooperate fully with police."

PHOTOS: Jett Travolta's Sudden Death

The actor filed an extortion complaint shortly after his son Jett died at the age of 16 on Jan. 2 from a seizure at the family's vacation home on Grand Bahama island. Prosecutors said the accused pair, Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater and paramedic Tarino Lightbourne, tried to get money from the Saturday Night Fever icon for the purpose of burying a document relating of the treatment of the film's star's ailing boy.

Travolta testified that the accused extortionists told him if he didn't come up with the money, "stories connected to that document would be sold to the press -- the stories would imply the death of my son was intentional and I was culpable somehow."

WENN

Comments

The Bahamas are evil, they let Howard Stern get away w/murder. They are doing this to get Travolta off their back. I bet they still try to extort money out of him.

by winkles
Posted Thu, 10/22/2009 - 6:46pm

what dirtbags. makes me wonder if they can even get a real trial there in bumpkin land

by pooky
Posted Thu, 10/22/2009 - 12:50pm

It's a cult. Google Tim Kenny/scientology and see what loving parents they were to Jett.

by MyTwoCents
Posted Thu, 10/22/2009 - 12:43pm

It has nothing to do with their religion. Even people treated medically for seizures can drop for unknown reasons into a seizure. My heart breaks for this family. And the bahamas is awful anymore of their handling of things.

by Just_Jenn
Posted Thu, 10/22/2009 - 11:57am

This poor kid died because his parents belong to a dangerous cult. The cult of Scientology does not permit proper medical treatment for Jetts condition. I hope it was worth it for Xenu. They should be charged with murder.

by MyTwoCents
Posted Thu, 10/22/2009 - 9:50am

I knew the Bahamas would let the charged off the hook some way. Americans should stay away from the Bahamas. Of course, they adopted Howard K. Stern and the death investigation for Daniel Smith was a joke.

by Bjan
Posted Thu, 10/22/2009 - 9:44am

Some "people" are really subhumans. These two scumbags top that list!

by Baileygirl
Posted Thu, 10/22/2009 - 9:36am

God Bless The Travolta Family. They didn't need this. I hope they do sell their home and every other American and Canadian living in the Bahamas. The Travoltas are good people.

by red_rose
Posted Thu, 10/22/2009 - 9:34am

The Bahamas' is a lawless, backward, piece of sh*t of a place. I would never visit there. EVER !! What a crooked horrible place. They are like animals .. I knew this outcome before it ever came out.

by Beth
Posted Thu, 10/22/2009 - 9:23am