Popsquire

A Bahamian judge decided today that Picewell Forbes won’t be punished for ruining the John Travolta extortion trial.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

Although Forbes’ conduct — announcing that defendant Pleasant Bridgewater had been found not guilty before the jury reached its decision — resulted in a mistrial, the judge decided today that Forbes would not be punished by the court.

The judge told Forbes that because he has been “rightly ridiculed locally and internationally … It is my opinion that you have suffered enough.”

What about all the time and money that went into the trial?  So-called public humiliation won’t pay back any of that, nor will it make up Travolta having to testify about his son’s death at an anticipated second trial.

Terrible.

Technorati Tags: john travolta extortion trial, legal expert, mistrial, picewell forbes, Pleasant Bridgewater, pop culture law

A Bahamian judge has declared a mistrial in the $25 million John Travolta extortion case.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

Although the jury only started deliberating today, a local politician announced that defendant and former senator Pleasant Bridgewater had been acquitted.

This likely made the judge wonder if a jury member was communicating with the politician and, as a result, the judge declared a mistrial, saying: “I am erring on the side of caution. Justice must be transparent.”

Very sad news for Travolta.  It means he will have to testify about his son’s death at a new trial.  There can’t be much worse in life than re-living the day of your child’s death in front of a group of strangers twice.

Technorati Tags: acquitted, extortion, john travolta, legal expert, mistrial, Pleasant Bridgewater, pop culture law

Click here to read the transcript of the taped conversations between former Bahamian Senator, Pleasant Bridgewater, and John Travolta’s attorney, Michael McDermott.  McDermott drives a hard bargain and even tries to put the deal on a layaway plan.  Seriously.  Read the transcript.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

Extortion is the dumbest crime ever.  If the victim / celebrity doesn’t care about the information getting released, the crime blows up in your face.  Plus, if it involves multiple negotiation sessions, there’s more opportunity to gather evidence to prosecute the crime.

Click here to watch Popsquire report on the Letterman sextortion scandal.

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Technorati Tags: extortion, john travolta extortion taped conversations, legal expert, letterman sextortion, Pleasant Bridgewater, pop culture law, Tarino Lightbourne

John Travolta returned to court this morning in the Bahamas and provided additional testimony in the extortion case arising out of his son Jett’s death.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

Although last week’s testimony focused on finding his son after a seizure, today’s testimony was all about the alleged extortion plot.

Travolta explained in court today that he never had any direct contact with the defendants, but that he understood through an employee and his lawyer that the defendants threatened to release information claiming he was at fault for his son’s death.  Specifically, if he didn’t pay them, they would “imply that the death of my son was intentional and I was culpable in some way.”

If the defense attorneys are smart, they will persuade the jury that Travolta’s testimony is hearsay and irrelevant.  If he didn’t have any direct contact with the defendants, then he really does not have any direct evidence of their illegal conduct.

Don’t fret, though.

Travolta’s lawyer, who did have contact with the defendants, testified yesterday that the defendants wanted Travolta to pay them in exchange for the return of certain documents — ambulance dispatch reports and the refusal to transport form.  The defendants allegedly communicated that Travolta should pay because  “he would not want his name tarnished in media.”

If you watched Popsquire on TV Guide Network last week, then you know the John Travolta extortion trial is focused on a “Refusal of Treatment / Transportation” form signed on the day of Jett Travolta’s death.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

Well, that form may no longer exist.  According to People.com, former Bahamian senator and defendant, Pleasant Bridgewater, may have burned it just as the investigation into her and paramedic Tarino Lightbourn’s conduct was heating up.

It’s likely not a major detriment to the prosecution’s case, though.  So long as witnesses testify that the extortion plot occurred, the existence of the document may not matter.  This extortion case is more about the defendants’ conduct relating to coercing money out of Travolta than it is about the whereabouts of the actual document.

Indeed, even if the document never existed, the defendants still could be found guilty of extortion.  They’d be guilty of fraud, too!

Technorati Tags: extortion trial, john travolta, key evidence destroyed, legal expert, Pleasant Bridgewater, pop culture law, prosecution, refusal of treatment form, tarino lightbourn

John Travolta flew into the Bahamas yesterday and is in court this morning where he is expected to testify in the extortion case linked to the death of his 16-year-old son, Jett.

As a reminder, the prosecution alleges that paramedic Tarino Lightbourn and his attorney, former Bahamian Senator Pleasant Bridgewater, conspired to extort $25 million from Travolta.  It’s all over a form that Travolta signed releasing the paramedics from not transporting Jett to the hospital, which they ultimately did anyway.

This case makes no sense.  Why would Lightbourn and Bridgewater think Travolta would pay $25 million for a form that became irrelevant, given that the paramedics transported Jett to the hospital?

Popsquire will keep you posted.

Technorati Tags: court, extortion, john travolta, Pleasant Bridgewater, pop culture law, tarino lightbourn, testify

The trial in the alleged extortion plot arising out of the death of John Travolta’s 16-year-old son, Jett, starts today in the Bahamas.

Jett died on January 2 after suffering a seizure and, as if his parents weren’t grief-stricken enough, they had to deal with an extortion plot involving a paramedic and a former Bahamian senator.

Below is a helpful timeline of events to refresh your memory of the events leading up to trial:

Jan. 22: (a) TMZ confirms that Bahamian police are investigating an alleged $20 million extortion plot against John Travolta, involving the circumstances of his son’s death; (b) Bahaminan Senator Pleasant Bridgewater is arrested on charges of extortion and conspiracy to extort.

Jan. 23: (a) Ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourn is arrested on charges of extortion and conspiracy to extort; (b) Bridgewater is released on $40,000 bail; and (c) Obie Wilchcombe is detained by Bahamian cops for questioning and then released.

Jan. 24: (a) Wilchcombe denies any involvement in an extortion plot and says only one person was involved, likely referring to Lightbourn; (b) Bridgewater tenders her resignation from Parliament and asserts her innocence.

Two suspects who allegedly conspired to extort $25 million from John Travolta pleaded not guilty in a Bahamian court today, which means that Travolta may have to testify against them during a September trial.

Like a good lawyer, Popsquire already updated the Travolta timeline:

Jan. 22: (a) TMZ confirms that Bahamian police are investigating an alleged $20 million extortion plot against John Travolta, involving the circumstances of his son’s death; (b) Bahaminan Senator Pleasant Bridgewater is arrested on charges of extortion and conspiracy to extort.

Jan. 23: (a) Ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne is arrested on charges of extortion and conspiracy to extort; (b) Bridgewater is released on $40,000 bail; and (c) Obie Wilchcombe is detained by Bahamian cops for questioning and then released.

Jan. 24: (a) Wilchcombe denies any involvement in an extortion plot and says only one person was involved, likely referring to Lightbourne; (b) Bridgewater tenders her resignation from Parliament and asserts her innocence.

Jan. 25: TMZ reports that Bahamian police have recordings of conversations in the alleged plot.

Jan. 26: (a) Lightbourne is taken into police custody for alleged attempted extortion and conspiracy to extort; (b) Prosecutors file a list of 14 witnesses, including John Travolta, his Bahamian lawyer Allyson Maynard, and his U.S.-based lawyers, Michael Ossi and Michael McDermott.

In memory of their 16-year-old son, John Travolta and Kelly Preston have announced the establishment of the Jett Travolta Foundation.

Click here for details about the foundation, including how to donate.  And, click here for a timeline detailing the ongoing criminal case against two people accused of trying to extort the family.

[Janet Mayer / PR Photos]

Technorati Tags: jett travolta foundation, john travolta, kelly preston, pop culture law, travolta extortion

Tarino Lightbourne, the Bahamiam EMT who is accused of trying to extort John Travolta, was released from jail yesterday after posting bond.  Like a good lawyer, Popsquire has updated the Travolta timeline below.

Jan. 22: (a) TMZ confirms that Bahamian police are investigating an alleged $20 million extortion plot against John Travolta, involving the circumstances of his son’s death; (b) Bahaminan Senator Pleasant Bridgewater is arrested on charges of extortion and conspiracy to extort.

Jan. 23: (a) Ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne is arrested on charges of extortion and conspiracy to extort; (b) Bridgewater is released on $40,000 bail; and (c) Obie Wilchcombe is detained by Bahamian cops for questioning and then released.

Jan. 24: (a) Wilchcombe denies any involvement in an extortion plot and says only one person was involved, likely referring to Lightbourne; (b) Bridgewater tenders her resignation from Parliament and asserts her innocence.

Jan. 25: TMZ reports that Bahamian police have recordings of conversations in the alleged plot.

Jan. 26: (a) Lightbourne is taken into police custody for alleged attempted extortion and conspiracy to extort; (b) Prosecutors file a list of 14 witnesses, including John Travolta, his Bahamian lawyer Allyson Maynard, and his U.S.-based lawyers, Michael Ossi and Michael McDermott.

With new developments every day, a good lawyer keeps a timeline!  See below.

Jan. 22: (a) TMZ confirms that Bahamian police are investigating an alleged $20 million extortion plot against John Travolta, involving the circumstances of his son’s death; (b) Bahaminan Senator Pleasant Bridgewater is arrested on charges of extortion and conspiracy to extort.

Jan. 23: (a) Ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne is arrested on charges of extortion and conspiracy to extort; (b) Bridgewater is released on $40,000 bail; and (c) Obie Wilchcombe is detained by Bahamian cops for questioning and then released.

Jan. 24: (a) Wilchcombe denies any involvement in an extortion plot and says only one person was involved, likely referring to Lightbourne; (b) Bridgewater tenders her resignation from Parliament and asserts her innocence.

Jan. 25: TMZ reports that Bahamian police have recordings of conversations in the alleged plot.

Jan. 26: (a) Lightbourne is taken into police custody for attempted extortion and conspiracy to extort; (b) Prosecutors file a list of 14 witnesses, including John Travolta, his Bahamian lawyer Allyson Maynard, and his U.S.-based lawyers, Michael Ossi and Michael McDermott.

The Travolta tragedy continues.  Below is timeline to keep you posted on the ongoing investigation into the alleged extortion plot surrounding Jett’s recent death.  So sad.

Jan. 22: (a) TMZ confirms that Bahamian police are investigating an alleged $20 million extortion plot against John Travolta, involving the circumstances of his son’s death; (b) Bahaminan Senator Pleasant Bridgewater is arrested on charges of extortion and conspiracy to extort.

Jan. 23: (a) Ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne is arrested on charges of extortion and conspiracy to extort; (b) Bridgewater is released on $40,000 bail; and (c) Obie Wilchcombe is detained by Bahamian cops for questioning and then released.

Jan. 24: (a) Wilchcombe denies any involvement in an extortion plot and says only one person was involved, likely referring to Lightbourne; (b) Bridgewater tenders her resignation from Parliament and asserts her innocence.

Jan. 25: TMZ reports that Bahamian police have recordings of conversations in the alleged plot.

Jan. 26: (a) Lightbourne was taken into police custody for alleged attempted extortion and conspiracy to extort; (b) Prosecutors filed a list of 14 witnesses, including John Travolta, his Bahamian lawyer Allyson Maynard, and his U.S.-based lawyers, Michael Ossi and Michael McDermott.

Reports of events and, frankly, non-events in the alleged John Travolta extortion plot have been circulating on the internet for days.  Like a good lawyer, Popsquire is boiling the reports down to a brief timeline below.

Jan. 22: (a) TMZ confirms that Bahamian police are investigating an alleged $20 million extortion plot against John Travolta, involving the circumstances of his son’s death; (b) Bahaminan Senator Pleasant Bridgewater is arrested on charges of extortion and conspiracy to extort.

Jan. 23: (a) Ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne is arrested on charges of extortion and conspiracy to extort; (b) Bridgewater is released on $40,000 bail; and (c) Obie Wilchcombe is detained by Bahamian cops for questioning and then released.

Jan. 24: (a) Wilchcombe denies any involvement in an extortion plot and says only one person was involved, likely referring to Lightbourne; (b) Bridgewater tenders her resignation from Parliament and asserts her innocence.

Jan. 25: TMZ reports that Bahamian police have recordings of conversations in the alleged plot.

Jan. 26: Authorities are expected to formally charge Lightbourne today.

PS: No one seems to know the exact details of the alleged plot.  Early reports indicted that it involved pictures of Jett, but most sources now vaguely claim that it involves the circumstances of his death.