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Travolta: Bahamas Medic Threatened Me
John Travolta testified Wednesday that Bahamas paramedic Tarino Lightbourne threatened to sell stories to the media suggesting the actor was at fault in the death of his 16-year-old son. Travolta said the paramedic, who is now on trial for extortion, demanded $25 million. If Travolta refused, Lightbourne said he would release a consent document that the actor initially signed refusing to have his son Jett sent to a local hospital. (The document cleared Lightbourne of any liability.) "They were stories that would imply that the death of my son was intentional and I was culpable in some way," Travolta said.
Travolta testified last week that he signed the document because he initially wanted his son flown to Florida for treatment. But Jett, who had suffered a seizure at a family vacation home on Grand Bahama island, was taken instead to a local hospital, where he died on Jan. 2.
Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston, left the Nassau courthouse immediately after his testimony with their attorneys and bodyguards.
A Bahamian attorney for Travolta, Allyson Maynard-Gibson, has testified that Bridgewater told her in a January meeting that the paramedic was talking with a woman from an unidentified American news outlet "who said it might be beneficial to him if he could show that Travolta was negligent." She said Lightbourne was also in talks with several other media companies.
The actor testified that he authorized his lawyers to contact Bahamas police after hearing about the alleged threat from Lightbourne.
The trial began Sept. 21 and is expected to last several weeks.
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Travolta in Bahamas
John Travolta and Kelly Preston leave the court building in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. Travolta testified against two people accused of trying to blackmail him with private information regarding his son's death.
AP
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John Travolta Photos
Detective Inspector Sean Saunders, of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, leaves the court building in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. US Actor John Travolta testified Wednesday that Bahaman paramedic Tarino Lightbourne, who is now on trial for extortion, threatened to sell stories to the news media suggesting the movie star was at fault in the death of his 16-year-old son. Saunders testified that he was part of a team of officers who set up an undercover sting operation earlier this year, in order to make audio and video recordings of former Bahamian Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater allegedly negotiating with Michael McDermott, an attorney for Travolta. (AP Photo/Hendricks McIntosh)
AP
Former Bahamian Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater arrives to the court building in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. US Actor John Travolta testified Wednesday that Bahamas paramedic Tarino Lightbourne, who is now on trial for extortion, threatened to sell stories to the news media suggesting the movie star was at fault in the death of his 16-year-old son, demanding $25 million. Bridgewater allegedly negotiated with the actor's lawyers for the paramedic. (AP Photo/Hendricks McIntosh)
AP
Bahamas' paramedic Tarino Lightbourne, right, arrives accompanied by an unidentified woman to the court building in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. US Actor John Travolta testified Wednesday that Lightbourne, who is now on trial for extortion, threatened to sell stories to the news media suggesting the movie star was at fault in the death of his 16-year-old son, demanding $25 million. (AP Photo/Hendricks McIntosh)
AP
U.S. attorney Michael McDermott, lawyer of US actor John Travolta, arrives to the court building in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. Travolta testified Wednesday that Bahamas paramedic Tarino Lightbourne, who is now on trial for extortion, threatened to sell stories to the news media suggesting the movie star was at fault in the death of his 16-year-old son, demanding $25 million. (AP Photo/Hendricks McIntosh)
AP
U.S. actor John Travolta, right, and his wife Kelly Preston leave the court building in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. Travolta testified Wednesday that Bahamas paramedic Tarino Lightbourne, who is now on trial for extortion, threatened to sell stories to the news media suggesting the movie star was at fault in the death of his 16-year-old son, demanding $25 million. (AP Photo/Hendricks McIntosh)
AP
U.S. actor John Travolta, right, and his wife Kelly Preston leave the court building in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. Travolta testified Wednesday that Bahamas paramedic Tarino Lightbourne, who is now on trial for extortion, threatened to sell stories to the news media suggesting the movie star was at fault in the death of his 16-year-old son, demanding $25 million. (AP Photo/Hendricks McIntosh)
AP
US actor John Travolta, left, and his wife Kelly Preston leave the court building in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. Travolta said Wednesday he tried desperately to save the life of his seizure-prone son as he testified in the trial of two people accused of trying to blackmail him. (AP Photo/Tim Aylen)
AP
US actor John Travolta, left, and wife Kelly Preston leave the court building in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. Travolta said Wednesday he tried desperately to save the life of his seizure-prone son as he testified in the trial of two people accused of trying to blackmail him. (AP Photo/Tim Aylen)
AP
U.S. actor John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston leave the court building in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. Travolta described the moments before his son's death in the Bahamas as he testified Wednesday against two people accused of trying to blackmail him with private information about the rescue effort. (AP Photo/Kris Ingraham)
AP
(FILES)Actor John Travolta smiles at the premiere of "Bolt" in this November 17, 2008 file photo in Hollywood, California. John Travolta arrived in the Bahamas September 23, 2009 to testify at the trial of two local men accused of trying to extort 25 million dollars from him following the death earlier this year of his teenage son.The two-time Oscar-nominee, who starred in the hit films "Saturday Night Fever" and "Pulp Fiction," arrived here under tight security for the trial of ex-senator Pleasant Bridgewater and ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne. AFP PHOTO/Gabriel BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
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Comments
(16)Add a comment
Thursday 01 October
By M
It sickens me to see what the people in the Bahamas stoop to the low levels of humanity to make a fast buck of someone that has money. Something tells me that it may be best to stay clear away from the Bahamas if you don't want to die.
Reply
Thursday 01 October
By roger dodger
yea that never happens here!!! like when michael jackson had to pay out 20 million to that white trash family with their bogus child molestation charges!!!!!!!!!!buddy greedy people are the same everywhere!!!!!!!!!
Thursday 01 October
By SU
I also sickens me to see how low people will go to make a buck. I am so sorry that the Travolta's have lost a precious son, and then has to deal with this garbage!
Thursday 01 October
By Jack
The pain of loss if evident. Think about it- If someone tried to blackmail you while you were going through a loss this great- it's sad. I don't follow their religion, but guess what...treating people nice is worth more than disagreeing about one anothers religion.
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Thursday 01 October
By M
You're missing something Roger Dodger...
These things seem to happen far more than the norm at the Bahamas and that is my point.
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Thursday 01 October
By momofautistic
Implying that the Travolta's are somehow at fault for their son's death is almost as bad as trying to extort money from them at such a horrible time. These people should be strung up publicly. What has happened to empathy in this world?
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Thursday 01 October
By Zoomer
TYPICAL AOL 239 PICTURES
25 would have covered it !!
IDIOTS
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Thursday 01 October
By The Clam
The Bahamas will lose celebrity visitors by the bucket if these 2 don't get convicted. And by the way folks, medical care in the islands is like bush medicine... most of the islands only have a "clinic" supervised by a "nurse." If you really need a hospital you have to fly to Nassau or Grand Bahama. It's not the U.S.....
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Thursday 01 October
By William Thornburgh
If this is how the Travolta's were treated by the medic- then I will NEVER step ground in the Bahamas. This is a prime example what happens when you travel to foreign land and the locals attempt anything to get rich off the tourist.
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Thursday 01 October
By MaryD
What a shame that people are so greedy to a grieving family. There wil lalways be greed where there is money to be made. Look what happened to MJ. That family drove that sweet, gentle man to despair.
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Thursday 01 October
By rex
whether you want to admit it or not. if Mr. Travolta did refuse the best medical attention available. he is partially responsible for his sons death. it doesn't matter what his religious convictions are. he made a choice, that choice could be the reason his son is dead. i would bet that given if he was given the opportunity to do it again, he would have made a different one
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Thursday 01 October
By vienna
Jehova Witness' don't believe in a lot of particular western medicine care either; such as not allowing blood transfusions.
Many times the court has to intervene on behalf of children because of the belief that these parents carry, brainwashed through their cult religions. I happen to call it "negligence" as well. While I believe in being proactive in mine and my family's medical care, I have absolutely no use for cults such as Scientology, and their interference.
I have no use for Scientology. None.
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Thursday 01 October
By scott8147
People, the difference between a cult and your religion is yours is right - of course. Hopefully someday people will realize that all religion is a cult - and totally false.
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Thursday 01 October
By neka lowe
Thanks Rex u understand , I am A very PROUD BAHAMIAN woman , to think that these two people tried to steal money from Trvollta's is a big joke, if u guys in the US would try to understand the whole story u will see , Ms.Bridgewater never asked John nor his attorney for no 25million dollars.If a Bahamian tried to steal money from John the most they would have asked for was 5 million.Y didnt the news say how John wanted 2 give Tarino 1 Million to keep his mouth shut???
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Thursday 01 October
By Pierre
If those accused are found guilty they should be given the maximum punishment allowed under Bahamian law.
Reply
Thursday 01 October
By saxetnam
It amazes me people will stoop so low that they need an umbrella so the ants don't piss on them!!!
Reply