Travolta drops extortion charges due to 'emotional toll' on family
John Travolta A judge in the Bahamas dismissed the case against ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne and his lawyer Pleasant Bridgewater after Travolta said it was taking a “heavy emotional toll” on his family.
“After much reflection I concluded that it was in my family’s best interest for me not to voluntarily return to the Bahamas to testify a second time at trial,” the 56-year-old actor said in a statement.
“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 added.
Lightbourne and Bridgewater were accused of trying to extort $25 million from Travolta by threatening to release private information about the death of his 16-year-old son Jett.
Travolta reportedly signed a “Refusal of Treatment/Transportation” form after the teenager suffered a fatal seizure during a family holiday in the Bahamas in January last year.
Bridgewater and Lightbourne reportedly hatched the extortion plot, believing Travolta would be embarrassed by his decision to refuse service.
Travolta and his 47-year-old wife Kelly Preston are currently preparing for the arrival of their third child. The baby boy is believed to be due in November.