Money Matters, Simplified.
John Travolta to relive his son's tragic death in extortion Trial
by Natalie James - September 20, 2009 - comments
TMZ reports that Travolta and wife Kelly Preston were reportedly "outraged" by the alleged extortion scheme, and subsequently filed an extortion complaint
Los Angeles, September 20:Hollywood actor John Travolta reportedly will testify at the extortion trial involving the death of his son, Jett, in January. The case is due to begin in The Bahamas on Monday, September 21.
Since the death of their son, the 'Grease' actor and wife Kelly Preston had kept a low profile and tried to stay strong for their daughter, Ella Bleu. Sadly, the devastated couple have to relive that tragedy in a courtroom.
conspiracy to extort money from Travoltas
Paramedic Tarino Lightbourne, who responded to Travolta's call for help the day Jett died, and former Bahamian senator Pleasant Bridgewater allegedly attempted to extort millions of dollars from the actor.
The two allegedly demanded $25 million in return for not going public with a "refusal to transport" document Travolta allegedly signed the morning Jett died.
Lightbourn and Bridgewater have been charged with conspiracy to extort money from Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston following the death of their only son in January 2009. Both have pleaded not guilty.
On the morning of January 2, Travoltas’ only son Jett had died of a massive seizure at the age of 16 while on vacation with his family in the Bahamas. The teen was found dead in the bathroom of the Travolta vacation house in Grand Bahama by the caretaker Jeff Kathrain.
Lightbourn was one of the first paramedics to reach the Travoltas’ home and drove Jett to the hospital. John allegedly signed a one-page “refusal to transport” document that morning with sensitive family information, which Lightbourn kept with him and later allegedly tried to extort money from the couple in exchange for that document.
Extortion plot “Outraged” Travoltas
According to People, the Bahamian police allege that approximately two weeks later Lightbourn tried to sell back that document to the actor via Bridgewater, who called a Travolta attorney and said her client wanted to sell the document to Travolta.
TMZ reports that Travolta and wife Kelly Preston were reportedly "outraged" by the alleged extortion scheme, and subsequently filed an extortion complaint.
Because the complaint is filed in the Bahamas, Travolta is required to appear in court to testify.
The multi-million dollar John Travolta extortion trial will begin on Monday, September 21, 2009, at Nassau Supreme Court before Senior Justice Anita Allen.