Man Behind Travolta Mistrial Fails to Enlighten Court

Bahamian politico Picewell Forbes given until next Thursday to explain his justice-marring outburst and avoid being held in contempt

John Travolta may have made a career out of cliff-hangers, but this is probably not what he had in mind.

While Picewell Forbes, the Bahamian politico behind the mistrial in Travolta and Kelly Preston's $25 million extortion case, was ordered before a judge this morning. He was expected to be grilled on why he publicly announced there was an acquittal before the jury even finished deliberations and try his hardest not to be held in contempt.

Instead, he was given one more week to come up with something good. And no, "the dog ate my common sense" will probably not fly.

Bahamian Senior Justice Anita Allen told the Progressive Liberal Party MP that he has until next Thursday to enlighten the world—and the court—as to both the rationale and sourcing behind his justice-marring outburst.

"One can see that the fairness of the trial could have been compromised," Allen lectured him in court.

"I operated under the maxim that justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done, which is the basis on which the jury was discharged," she continued.

Forbes' attorney doesn't seem all that convinced that his client's motormouth in any way detracted from justice being served. Not that Anthony McKinney won't bring his A-game to next week's hearing.

"We will take whatever steps are necessary to convince the judge that there was no interference by our client with the trial, or in any way with the procedures that were required to be followed," he said outside court.

The extortion retrial is slated to begin sometime next year.