Judge Declares Mistrial, Orders Do-Over in Travolta Extortion Case

Jury misconduct suspected as a politician announces a verdict on TV

John Travolta's nightmare continues.

Suspecting juror misconduct, a Bahamian judge has declared a mistrial in the case of two people accused of trying to extort $25 million from Travolta's family after a local politician said in a speech played on radio and TV that former Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater had been acquitted.

Well, who the heck told him that?!

Closing arguments concluded this morning and the case went to the jury shortly afterward.

"The dilemma that we face is great," Senior Justice Anita Allen told the court. "I am erring on the side of caution. Justice must be transparent."

Bridgewater and ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne pleaded not guilty for allegedly trying to get Travolta and Kelly Preston to pay for their silence regarding so-called damning details related to their son Jett's death.

Travolta's attorney, Michael Ossi, said his client will fully cooperate with future proceedings and testify again if need be.

"We are committed to seeing this through, and we are committed to seeing justice served," Ossi said. "And whatever the prosecution asks us to do is exactly what we will do."

In an emotional appearance on the witness stand, Travolta recalled finding Jett unconscious at their hotel in the Bahamas on Jan. 2, the day the 16-year-old died after suffering a seizure.

A Progressive Liberal Party official has already issued an apology on behalf of Parliament Member Picewell Forbes, who told a convention audience that Bridgewater was "a free woman."

Forbes misspoke and no verdict has been issued, PLP Deputy Chairman-Elect Alex Storr said this evening.