Bahamas lawmaker apologizes for Travolta mistrial

Associated Press - October 27, 2009 11:15 AM PDT
Story photo: Bahamas lawmaker apologizes for Travolta mistrialA local judge declared a mistrail in the 25-million-dollar John Travolta, pictured in 2008, extortion case due to a leak of confidential information, an official said.(AFP/File/Gabriel Bouys)Associated Press

NASSAU, Bahamas - A Bahamas lawmaker apologized publicly Tuesday for remarks that caused a mistrial in the John Travolta extortion case, but he did not reveal who told him that a defendant had been acquitted before a verdict was announced.

Picewell Forbes said his televised assertion that the still-deliberating jury had cleared one of the two defendants, a former Bahamas senator from his party, was "not true."

"My statements were reckless and interfered with the course of justice in that case and were further capable of bringing disrepute to the whole administration of justice," Forbes said during a brief news conference inside the parliament building.

Forbes apologized to the judge and the people of this island chain off the Florida coast. He did not take questions and his attorney, Anthony McKinney, said they cannot comment further because the matter is still before the court.

Senior Justice Anita Allen, who presided over the monthlong trial, has said she is considering a contempt of court charge against Forbes. Allen said she had no choice but to dismiss the jury because his remarks on the night of Oct. 21 gave the appearance of a leak from the jury room.

Forbes is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday. McKinney has said Forbes was merely repeating a rumor and there is nothing to suggest there was any contact between the jury and leaders of his client's Progressive Liberal Party.

The former Bahamas senator, Pleasant Bridgewater, is accused of participating in a plot to extort $25 million from the movie star following his son's January death at a family vacation home. Bridgewater, who is also an attorney, allegedly negotiated on behalf of a paramedic, Tarino Lightbourne, who had private information about the death of 16-year-old Jett Travolta.

Bridgewater and Lightbourne both pleaded not guilty to extortion. A new trial is expected to be scheduled for next year.

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    report abuseposted October 27, 2009 6:02 PM PDT
  • BeeserStl
    The defendant was going to be acquited. There must be some major corruption in the Bahama's.
    report abuseposted October 27, 2009 11:52 AM PDT
  • MS M
    I am brokenhearted for the Travoltas disappointment by having put their faith in believing they would get justice for their atrocious suffering at the hands of 2 money greedy people. I pray, watch & hope the judicial Bahamian system will rise above Forbes political suicide and show the world that the Bahamians continue to have the joie de vie sense of moral friendliness we have come to exp
    report abuseposted October 27, 2009 11:37 AM PDT
  • MS M
    Picewell Forbes did this on purpose so that it could be declared a mistrial! Bridgewater is from his OWN party! He can NOT name who told him because he and his cohorts MADE IT UP! Not only did Forbes shame himself but the Bahamian country for his childish petty hurtful games. The judge should slap a contempt of court charge against Forbes. Who actually believes this was an innocent mistake?
    report abuseposted October 27, 2009 11:26 AM PDT
  • Gottigirl
    I feel for the Travolta's..they want to move on, some closure.....I pray for them
    report abuseposted October 27, 2009 11:00 AM PDT
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