'Medical Document' Used in Travolta Blackmail Plot

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»

Star went against Scientology teachings on diagnosis: Enquirer

(NEWSER) - In a breach of Scientology protocol, John Travolta admitted his son was autistic, the National Enquirer reports. A statement to Bahamas police following the January death of 16-year-old Jett included a line from Travolta, “My son Jett suffered from a seizure disorder and he was autistic.” In the past, the Travoltas said Jett suffered from a rare blood-vessel disease. To see the document, click the link below. More»

(NEWSER) - Denzel Washington said today he recently spent hours on the phone listening to John Travolta grieve over the death of his son, People reports. "Needless to say, he's struggling," said Washington at a press conference for their film, Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. "So more than talking to him, I listened to him, for about two or three hours." More»