Rerun Date Set for John Travolta Extortion Trial

Bahamian judge pencils in monthlong do-over to begin on Sept. 6; Travolta expected to testify again

By Gina Serpe Jan 28, 2010 12:15 AMTags
John Travolta, Kelly PrestonAP Photo/Hendricks McIntosh

It's been just over a year since Jett Travolta's tragic death in the Bahamas. But his family will have to wait at least nine more months for any real sense of closure.

A Bahamian judge has penciled in Sept. 6 as the start date for the retrial of former Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater and ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne, both of whom are accused of conspiring to extort $25 million from a mourning John Travolta and Kelly Preston in the wake of their 16-year-old son's death.

Last October, just as the original case was set to return from deliberations, the judge declared a mistrial due to possible juror misconduct after an apologetic colleague of Bridgewater's announced that the panel of her peers had found her innocent—all before the group had read out a verdict.

This time around, Lightbourne's attorney has said that he cannot afford to represent his client pro bono again and has requested the court pay him a daily stipend.

Supreme Court Judge John Isaacs said he would take the idea into consideration.

Meanwhile, Bridgewater's attorney told reporters that, seeing as how his client is innocent, they will not be altering their defense strategy.

Like the first go-round, the retrial is expected to last about a month. And jurors are expected to leave their cell phones at home.

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Remember the Travoltas in happier times with a look through our tribute gallery.