Judge drops charges after the actor decides not to re-testify
Judge drops charges after the actor decides not to re-testify
ADVERTISEMENT
On the request of the actor's family, a judge in the Bahamas dismissed charges yesterday against two people accused of extorting money from the star and his wife after their 16-year-old son Jett died."The Travolta family has said that this matter has caused them unbelievable stress and pain and they wish to put this whole thing behind them," prosecutor Neil Braithwaite said.
The lawyer submitted the motion to drop the case after a jury had already been chosen and a retrial scheduled for ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne and his attorney, Pleasant Bridgewater.
The duo was accused of seeking $25 million from the actor by threatening to release private information about Jett's death in January of last year at the family's vacation home in the Bahamas.
According to sources, Travolta signed a Refusal of Treatment/Transportation form January 2 after his son suffered a deadly seizure. Bridgewater and Lightbourne, who obtained the Pulp Fiction star's signature, reportedly hatched the extortion plot believing the actor would be embarrassed by his decision to refuse service.
Travolta, an avid pilot, initially wanted to take his son to an airstrip for an emergency flight to Florida.
But the form was eventually disregarded as the harried parents accompanied Jett in an ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Bridgewater resigned from the Bahamas Senate after the charges against her went public.
In October, the judge declared a mistrial after a Bahamian legislator announced at a political convention that the jury -- who were still deliberating after eight hours had acquitted one of the suspects.
While Travolta testified during the fall trial, he said yesterday that he had decided not to testify during a retrial despite previously stating he would.
"The long-pending status of this matter continued to take a heavy emotional toll on my family, causing us to conclude that it was finally time to put this matter behind us," he said."
"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels 
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
