The trial of two people accused of trying to extort money from John Travolta, after the death of his son in the Bahamas has ended in a mistrial after one lawmaker suggested that the jury is still deliberating had acquitted one defendant.
Senior Justice Anita Allen said he reluctantly ordered a new trial “in the interest of justice” because the political statement in a speech broadcast on radio and television gave the appearance of an escape abuse the jury room .
“The dilemma we face is great,” Allen told the court. “I’m sinning precaution. Justice must be transparent.”
Tarin ambulance driver Lightbourne and her lawyer, politician Pleasant Bridgewater, were accused of threatening to reveal private information about the death of 16 January Travolta year-old son Jett in the house of a family vacation on Grand Bahama.
Lightbourne, who was one of the doctors who treated Jett allegedly requested $ 25 million actor with the assistance of Bridgewater, who resigned his Senate seat in the Bahamas after he was accused in the case.
Jurors were deliberating, when the legislature Picewell Forbes said at a hearing in a Progressive Liberal Party convention that Bridgewater was a “free woman”. Not go into details.
Immediately thereafter, Alex Storr, elected party vice president, said Forbes had erred. He said the information was incorrect and no verdict was issued. He apologized on behalf of the party.
But the judge said the comment from Forbes’ gave him no choice but to dismiss the jurors. She did not set a new date for trial.
The jury, which deliberated about nine hours, had spent a month hearing testimony even Travolta, who flew to the Bahamas to take the job. Michael Ossi, one of the actor’s lawyers, said his client would cooperate in any way possible and declare again if necessary.
“We are committed to seeing this through, and we are determined to do justice,” Ossi said. “Whatever the prosecution asks us to do exactly what we do.”
Howard Butler, Florida-based lawyer for Travolta, referred further questions to a publicist did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In closing statements, lawyers for the defendants, who denied the allegations, told the nine jurors that their clients were created by lawyers for Travolta. He said that the authorities misinterpreted his actions.
The alleged plot centered on a document that have launched the emergency services from liability if the family refused an ambulance ride to hospital for Jett, who suffered a fatal attack on a family vacation home on Grand Bahama 2 January.
Travolta said he signed the waiver, as initially wanted her autistic son on a direct flight to Florida for treatment. But later he changed his mind, and the document comes into play.
Lightbourne said that the actor threatened to sell stories to the media suggesting that he was at fault in the death of his son.
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