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



WEST END and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe testified yesterday that more than a week after Jett Travolta’s death he was shown two documents by former Senator Pleasant Bridgewater which were supposedly harmful to the Travoltas.

Mr Wilchcombe, who was the first witness to take the stand yesterday in the attempted extortion case against Bridgewater and former ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne, said he met with Bridgewater at his office at Universal Distributors headquarters in Freeport, Grand Bahama, on January 12. He and Bridgewater are partners in the company.

According to Mr Wilchcombe, Bridgewater told him she had a client who had a document that could be harmful to the Travoltas.

“Knowing all that we did to protect the image of the country and knowing my relationship with the Travoltas, she thought she would bring it to my attention,” Mr Wilchcombe said.

“She showed me two documents. I saw the name Rand Memorial Hospital. I saw the name John Travolta. I said this is bulls…” Mr Wilchcombe told the court.

Mr Wilchcombe said he asked Bridgewater who her client was, but she told him she could not disclose that information.

“I told her she should tell her client to jump off a roof and kill himself,” Mr Wilchcombe said.

Mr Wilchcombe said he phoned Mark Smith, the Travolta family’s doctor, then phoned Michael Ossi, lead attorney for the Travoltas. Mr Wilchcombe told the court that following that conversation, he received a phone call from another attorney for the Travoltas. Mr Wilchcombe said he took the call in the reception area, spoke to the attorney, then called Bridgewater to the telephone before returning to his office. During cross-examination by Bridgewater’s attorney Murrio Ducille, Mr Wilchcombe admitted that Bridgewater had not instructed him to call anyone and had come to him because she was concerned about the documents she had in her possession.

According to Mr Wilchcombe, Bridgewater said she did not want any harm to come to the Travoltas and had never told him that he was to be an agent to extract money from John Travolta based on the documents she had in her possession.

During cross-examination by Lightbourne’s attorney Carlson Shurland, Mr Wilchcombe admitted he had been arrested in connection with the extortion attempt and that he had told a local newspaper that he thought the ordeal was a conspiracy against him. Mr Wilchcombe also admitted that Bridgewater had never told him that her client was seeking to extract money from Mr Travolta.

Attorney Michael Ossi testified yesterday that he spoke with Mr Wilchcombe by telephone around 5.30 pm on January 12 and following that conversation he phone Michael McDermott, another attorney for the Travoltas. Mr Ossi also told the court that on Saturday, January 17, he had a meeting with attorneys Allyson Maynard Gibson, Damian Gomez, Michael McDermott, Howard Butler and Michael Hamilton at the firm of Gibson and Co.

The case resumes on Monday at 10.30. Mrs Maynard-Gibson and Mr McDermott are expected to take the stand next week. Bridgewater, a former PLP senator, and Lightbourne, a former ambulance driver, are accused of attempting to extort $25 million from Hollywood celebrity John Travolta.

Prosecutors have called six witnesses, including Mr Travolta who took the stand on Wednesday. Mr Travolta is expected to be recalled next week. Bridgewater, 49, and Lightbourne, 47, are accused of conspiring to extort and attempting to extort money from Mr Travolta between January 2 and 20 by means of threats. Bridgewater is also accused of abetment to extort.

September 26, 2009

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