TIGblogs - Dennis Dames

By NATARIO McKENZIE:
Tribune Staff Reporter -
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net:

SOUTH Andros MP Picewell Forbes is expected back before a judge next week to explain why he should not be held in contempt of court for an outburst at the PLP's national convention which led to a mistrial in the John Travolta attempted extortion case.

Forbes appeared calm and composed as he sat behind his team of attorneys in a courtroom packed with PLP supporters and officials during a brief hearing before Senior Justice Anita Allen yesterday.

Attorney Wayne Munroe, who along with Anthony McKinney and Alfred Sears represents Forbes, told the judge that the MP had been unable to instruct them on what the precise allegations were to which he had to answer.

Senior Justice Allen explained that the hearing had come about as a result of an announcement made at the political convention while the jury was still deliberating. On Wednesday night, Forbes took to the convention stage and told delegates that former PLP senator Pleasant Bridgewater had been acquitted of all charges in the attempted extortion case.

The judge said she did not think that the complaint required an investigation into whether the discharge of the jury was proper but whether Forbes' announcement posed a real risk of prejudice to the administration of justice.

Mr Munroe then said he, Mr McKinney and Mr Sears would require more time to consider the complaint.

Director of Public Prosecutions Bernard Turner did not object to the application for more time. The hearing was adjourned to next Thursday at 10am.

While Forbes declined to speak to reporters outside the courtroom yesterday, Mr McKinney said: "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 by anybody, including Mr Forbes."

Director of Public Prosecutions Bernard Turner told reporters: "The judge has sent for Mr Forbes. The Crown doesn't have a position in this matter. We are present but we will see what the judges' position is."

He said the Crown has not yet considered when a retrial in the attempted extortion case will be held.

The nine-member jury in the attempted extortion trial of former PLP Senator Pleasant Bridgewater and former Grand Bahama ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne was discharged at 10.54pm Wednesday although they had not reached a verdict.

Senior Justice Allen told jurors there had been announcement at a political convention by a senior official, indicating that one of the accused persons had been acquitted.

Earlier, around 9.30pm, Mr Forbes took to the convention stage, while the jury was still deliberating, and told delegates that Bridgewater had been acquitted.

He exclaimed: "Pleasant is a free woman, PLPs! God is good, PLPs! Pleasant is a free woman! God still reigns, PLPs!"

No verdict had been reached yet convention members celebrated Bridgewater's supposed vindication by singing and dancing to "Oh Happy Day." The session chairman later had to apologise for whatever confusion the MP's pronouncement caused.

Bridgewater and Lightbourne are accused of attempting to extort, and conspiring to extort $25 million from American actor John Travolta between January 2 and 20 by means of a threat. They deny the charges.

October 24, 2009

tribune242

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