Juror misconduct is at the heart of the ruling by a Bahamian judge to declare a mistrial in the John Travolta extortion case. The ruling came after the judge discovered local politician had announced one of the defendants had been acquitted – before the verdict was read.
Former Bahamian Senator Pleasant Bridgewater and accused accomplice Tarino Lightbourne were on trial for allegedly attempting to blackmail Jon Travolta and wife Kelly Preston. The two allegedly attempted to force Travolta to pay them money to keep quiet about details related to the death of the couple’s son, Jett Travolta.
Closing arguments in the Travolta extortion case ended this morning and jurors were sent out to determine a verdict. Before the jurors could reach a decision, Senior Justice Anita Allen declared a mistrial in the case. Apparently, a local politician announced in a radio and TV speech that defendant Pleasant Bridgewater was “a free woman.” The announcement came before the jury had reached a verdict, prompting the judge in the case to suspect a juror had leaked information to the politician.
“The dilemma that we face is great,” Allen told the court. “I am erring on the side of caution. Justice must be transparent.”
A date has not yet been set for the retrial, but John Travolta plans to continue his campaign against his alleged blackmailers. “Mr. Travolta has and will continue to cooperate with the Bahamian authorities in the prosecution of the defendants for extortion,” a rep for the actor said in a press statement.
A memorial service for Jett Travolta will be held tomorrow. The private service, to be be held in Ocala, Florida, will honor the 16-year-old son of John Travolta and Kelly Preston, who died after a seizure in the Bahamas on Friday.
Jett’s parents took an urn with his ashes and left the Bahamas on Monday night, arriving in Florida on Tuesday.
According to the funeral home in the Bahamas which cremated him, Jett’s body showed no signs of head trauma. An autopsy was completed on Monday, and it determined that no foul play was involved. The funeral home leaked the information that the cause of death was seizure. Jett was reportedly not taking medicine for seizure disorder at the time of his death, and authorities said last night that they would be questioning his parents as part of their investigation into Jett’s death.
UPDATE 1/4/09:TMZ is reporting that there’s a conflict brewing between the Bahama PD and John Travolta’s camp regarding the time line of Jett Travolta’s death. People who are with Travolta are bristling at the suggestion Jett might have been left unattended for more than 10 hours, but this morning cops say they are sticking to their story.
Police in the Bahamas are investigating yesterday’s death of John Travolta’s 16 year-old son Jett Travolta through their “Serious Crimes” unit. Jett died yesterday, ostensibly due to a seizure that caused him to hit his head in the bathtub of the Travolta vacation spot on Grand Bahama Island. What is not clear is WHY Jett was alone in the bathtub.
Jett was last seen by anyone the night prior to his death when he went to the bathroom. He wasn’t found until 10:00am yesterday morning. His “nanny” Jeff Michael Kathrein found him. This pic of John and Jeff is from 2006, but maybe it’s why Jeff wasn’t caretaking too well.
An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, and Jett’s body is to be flown Tuesday to Florida.
Jett had a history of seizures, and, unfortunately, John and wife Kelly Preston are Scientologists. Scientologists shun virtually all forms of medication, and instead use dangerous detox “purification rundown” regimens, potentially toxic high-dose Niacin treatments, “auditing” (the tin-can sham) and other whacky “cures” like “touch assists” for what ails someone. No anti-seizure medicines for Jett, you can be sure of that. Jett was extremely developmentally challenged, and was known not to be able to communicate with words. Most people agree he was autistic, especially people in Ocala, FL. where the family spends much of their time.
John and Kelly refused to admit Jett’s true affliction, choosing instead the obscure “Kawasaki Syndrome” to define Jett’s problems. Any quick study of the syndrome reveals that it was highly unlikely that it was what Jett suffered from.
Is Scientology responsible for this tragedy? Had Jett been taking the proper medications he more than likely would not have suffered a seizure. He would probably still be alive. Instead of being cared for by a proper medical facility, Jett underwent Scientology “sec checks” and “auditing” – neither of which involves the treatment he needed for his disease. The Church and its members freely practice medicine without being licensed.
It is heartbreaking that this young man, obviously dependent on others to care for him, was a victim of the insane doctrines and of the cult of Scientology. Scientologists actively perform the exact same treatments on others who suffer from similar diseases. They are doing it right now, in this country.
For all of the Xenu and alien jokes we make about the members of this cult, Jett’s death highlights the true danger involved for anyone who has been brainwashed into the hands of these money-grabbing idiots. I feel very sad for John, Kelly and Jett’s little sister Ella. Maybe this tragedy will open their eyes, and those of others, to the truth about these horrible people- and Jett’s death won’t be in vain.
For those who wish to leave Scientology safely, call toll free from any phone (pay phone is suggested for anonymity) 1-866-XSEAORG.
John Travolta’s son Jett, age 16, has died. Jett passed away after suffering a seizure at the family vacation home at Old Bahama Bay Hotel on Grand Bahama Island. The boy’s body was discovered by his caretaker, Jeff Michael Kathrain, at around 10 a.m. in a bathtub in the Travoltas’ suite, according to police superintendent Basil Rahming. He had not been seen by John or anyone else since he went to the bathroom the previous night. The theory is that Jett hit his head in the bathtub. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he was declared dead at Rand Memorial Hospital on Grand Bahama Island. “We are still investigating,” Rahming said.
Jett has long been rumored to be autistic, and most certainly had medical issues. As John and his wife Kelly Preston are devout Scientologists, they allegedly denied any therapeutic autism treatments for Jett’s problems, and have kept him virtually hidden away for years. Seizures are not uncommon at all in autistic children, and Jett had suffered many previously. Travolta has always denied the autism claims, and contended that Jett had Kawasaki Syndrome, a poorly understood vascular disease which can affect the heart. Kelly Preston told Montel Williams that Jett was put on a special detox program as prescribed by Scientology. “He ended up getting better,” she said, but noted the boy still “has lots of allergies.”
The noise-canceling headphones Jett wore, however, are indicative of an autism-spectrum disorder. Scientologists consider any type of “mental disorder” as bogus, and someone who exhibits signs of such as inferior. As someone who has worked closely with autistic children for over a decade, video clips of Jett certainly look like he suffered from the disorder.
It is extremely rare for anyone over the age of 8 to have symptoms of Kawasaki Syndrome, an extremely rare syndrome itself. It is even more rare for someone to die from the syndrome. An autopsy will be held in the Bahamas on Monday. Video of the ambulance rushing Jett to the hospital is here.
Jett was the eldest child of John and Kelly; they also have a daughter, Ella Blue, age 8. Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium in the Bahamas says Jett’s body will be transferred to them on Monday. We will be updating this breaking news as more info becomes available.
photo credit: splash news
