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Travolta Extortion Trial Bahamas: Senator Allyson Maynard-Gibson warned Senator Pleasant Bridgewater about attempted extortion plot
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By JUAN MCCARTNEY ~ Guardian Senior Reporter ~ juan@nasguard.com:

PLP Senator Allyson Maynard-Gibson testified yesterday that she warned former Senator Pleasant Bridgewater that her possible involvement in an alleged extortion attempt on American actor John Travolta could have legal implications.

"I said to her 'Pleasant you know what you're doing is wrong, right?'" Maynard-Gibson testified she said to her then Senate colleague on the way to the Grand Bahama International Airport following a meeting at Bridgewater's office in Freeport in January.

Bridgewater and ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne are accused of attempting to extort money from Travolta by means of threats following the death of Travolta's 16-year-old son in Grand Bahama on January 2.

Maynard-Gibson said that when she told Bridgewater that the whole transaction was wrong, she replied that Lightbourne's position was "that he could have her or he could have a 'jungless' lawyer."

As Maynard-Gibson spoke about the alleged warning, Bridgewater shook her head in the courtroom.

Maynard-Gibson said in testimony on Tuesday that she traveled to Grand Bahama on January 15 to meet with Bridgewater.

Maynard-Gibson said Tuesday that during that meeting Bridgewater told her that she had a client (later identified as Lightbourne) who had a document that he felt was detrimental to Travolta, and he wanted to give him the first option to purchase that document for $25 million.

Maynard-Gibson said Bridgewater told her that if Travolta did not pay, Lightbourne would sell the document to the international media, along with stories that would implicate the actor in his son's death.

When asked by Murrio Ducille — Bridgewater's attorney — if she told the police in her initial statement that she had warned Bridgewater, she said that she did not.

"The conversation didn't specifically in my view relate to my client's concern," said Maynard-Gibson, explaining why she left it out of her statement.

Several PLP members were present during her testimony. Just before Maynard-Gibson took the stand, PLP Deputy Leader Cynthia "Mother" Pratt approached Bridgewater at the bar, gave her a hug and told her "be blessed."

Also present were PLP Leader Perry Christie, and PLP MPs Philip 'Brave' Davis, Vincent Peet and Melanie Griffin.

They listened as prosecutors played an audio recording of a telephone conversation Maynard-Gibson had with Bridgewater on January 18.

As the tape played in the courtroom, Maynard-Gibson could be heard telling a woman she called 'Pleasant' (and identified as Bridgewater in her testimony) that Travolta's attorney, Michael McDermott, was flying in to New Providence to meet and speak with her directly.

"He will contact you when he gets here," Maynard-Gibson said. "Do you mind if I give him your number?"

Bridgewater said that she did not, and asked Maynard-Gibson if she knew what he was going to say.

"I really don't know," Maynard-Gibson replied. "I think the fact that he's coming means that he's taking the matter quite seriously."

Bridgewater replied: "My people have been calling me all day telling me, you know, that they have a deadline."

"I told him, let's see what happens by Tuesday (Jan. 20)," Bridgewater said.

During the course of the conversation, Bridgewater also asked if Maynard-Gibson would attend the meeting with her. Maynard-Gibson indicated that she would not be attending that meeting.

Upon cross-examination by Ducille, Maynard-Gibson admitted that she was responsible for putting Bridgewater and McDermott in touch with each other.

Senior Justice Anita Allen released Maynard-Gibson from further testimony yesterday.

Chief prosecutor Bernard Turner is prosecuting the case along with Garvin Gaskin and Neil Braithwaite.

Carlson Shurland is representing Lightbourne.

McDermott is expected to testify this morning.


October 1, 2009

thenassauguardian




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Travolta Extortion Trial Bahamas: Senator Pleasant Bridgewater in police undercover sting operation>>>

Travolta Extortion Trial Bahamas: Obie Wilchcombe testifies>>>

John Travolta testifies at Bahamas extortion trial>>>

October 1, 2009 | 12:09 PM Comments  0 comments

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