Travolta bids for US trial
October 24th, 2009 - 2:16 am ICT by IANS ( Leave a comment )London, Oct 24 (IANS) Hollwyood star John Travolta is hoping to transfer his extortion case to the US, after a judge in the Bahamas ordered a retrial.
Former Bahamas senator Pleasant Bridgewater and paramedic Tarino Lightbourne were facing charges of conspiracy to extort $25 million from the actor and his wife Kelly Preston after their 16-year-old son Jett suffered a fatal seizure at the family’s holiday home there in January this year.
The accused allegedly threatened to release a Refusal of Treatment/Transportation form, which Travolta signed after requesting paramedics drive his son to the airport. He initially believed it would be faster to fly the 16 year old to a hospital in Florida for treatment, but subsequently changed his mind.
Senior Justice Anita Allen declared a mistrial Wednesday, after a Bahamian politician revealed Bridgewater had been cleared, before a verdict was announced.
Imdb.com reports, now Travolta, who testified during the hearings, will have to take to the stand again as the case goes back to court. And his lawyer, Michael Ossi, is working to get the criminal charges heard in Jacksonville, Florida.
“I have asked the Bahamian authorities to preserve all the evidence for the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) to review, and I have written to the federal government and the Bahamian government about trying the case in Florida. The original call was made from the Bahamas to Florida, so there is jurisdiction for a trial in the US,” said Ossi.
Ossi insists despite Travolta’s grief, his client will fully cooperate with future proceedings and will testify again if necessary.
“The family would like to privately begin their long healing process without the prospect of more litigation over their heads. But we have no choice.”
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- I am the real victim, says alleged Travolta extortionist - Sep 16, 2010
- John Travolta Drops Extortion Case Against Bridgewater & Lightborne Due to Stress - Sep 07, 2010
- Travolta wants extortion case to be transferred to US - Oct 24, 2009
- John Travolta extortion case dropped - Sep 07, 2010
- John Travolta's extortion retrial date set - Jan 29, 2010
- John Travolta drops extortion charges - Sep 07, 2010
- Travolta Extortion case dropped - Sep 07, 2010
- Travolta to testify at extortion trial - Sep 21, 2009
- Travolta refused medical aid for dying son - Sep 23, 2009
- Charges dropped against the two accused in the John Travolta extortion case - Sep 06, 2010
- John Travolta blackmail saga continues in court - Oct 15, 2009
- Travolta 'intentionally killed' son, believed accused paramedic - Oct 03, 2009
- Travolta's blackmailers caught on tape while making extortion deal - Sep 26, 2009
- Travolta Trial against Bahamas Senator Bridgewater - Sep 22, 2009
Tags: bahamian government, bridgewater, criminal charges, extortion, federal bureau of investigation, healing process, holiday home, jacksonville florida, john travolta, kelly preston, lightbourne, mistrial, ossi, paramedic, paramedics, politician, retrial, seizure, tarino, wife kelly