Lawmaker Charged in Travolta Extortion Quits

Alleged extortionists to face new trial after word of acquittal gets out

(NEWSER) - A Bahamian judge ordered a mistrial in the John Travolta extortion case yesterday after a loose-lipped juror apparently spread word that one of the two accused would be acquitted. The judge blamed juror misconduct after a local politician made a speech saying that a former senator—charged along with a paramedic of trying to extort $25 million from Travolta over his son's death—was "a free woman." The pair will be tried again, the New York Daily News reports. More»

Tarino Lightbourne tries to turn the tables on John Travolta at extortion trial

(NEWSER) - Jett Travolta was “dead, d-e-a-d, dead” before the ambulance arrived, Bahamian paramedic Tarino Lightbourne testified yesterday—adding that it was the Travoltas’ lawyer who offered him $15 million to destroy a “Refusal of Transport/Treatment” document signed by the actor. The paramedic is charged along with a former Bahamas senator with attempting to extort $25 million from Travolta over claims that he and wife Kelly Preston intentionally killed their son. More»

Continuing testimony could be key in $25M extortion case

(NEWSER) - John Travolta appeared in a Bahamian court today and recounted his efforts to save dying son Jett earlier this year, E! reports. He also publicly acknowledged Jett's troubles for the first time: "He was autistic. He suffered from a seizure disorder." After a nanny woke them to say Jett was unconscious, “I ran downstairs with my wife to help my son," Travolta said. He immediately joined in the CPR. “Jeff, the other nanny, was doing some compressions. I was doing the breathing.” More»

Prosecution has gathered all necessary evidence

(NEWSER) - Bahamian prosecutors are ready to begin the extortion trial against two people accused of trying to profit from the death of Jett Travolta, E! reports. A former senator and a paramedic are charged with attempting to blackmail the Travoltas into giving up $25 million. They had a "failure to transport" document, apparently trying to suggest the Travoltas failed to take all medical steps for Jett. Arraignment is scheduled for April 28; no word yet on whether John Travolta—named as a witness—will take the stand. More»

(NEWSER) - Paramedic Tarino Lightbourne, the second of three suspects held in the John Travolta extortion case, pleaded not guilty today to conspiracy charges in the Bahamas, E! Online reports. Lightbourne had driven Jett Travolta to a hospital the day he died. The paramedic is being held without bail; a prosecutor says his release could compromise the search for a “certain document,” perhaps a photo of Jett’s body. More»