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Travolta Extortion Trial Bahamas: Travolta trial 'is not a theatre show' - says Judge
Related to country: Bahamas

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SENIOR Justice Anita Allen delivered a stern warning against incivility in the courtroom yesterday as the attempted $25 million extortion trial of ex-PLP Senator Pleasant Bridgewater and former paramedic Tarino Lightbourne continued in the Supreme Court.

Attorney Michael McDermott, who represents Hollywood celebrity John Travolta, 55, was back on the witness stand yesterday for more cross-examination by defence attorneys. Before attorney Murrio Ducille was allowed to continue his cross-examination yesterday, however, Senior Justice Allen stated that there would be “none of the behaviour” displayed in the courtroom on Thursday. There were tense moments in the high profile trial on Thursday as Mr Ducille and Mr McDermott had to be repeatedly warned by Senior Justice Allen about engaging in commentary.

“This is not a theatre and not a show. We are about serious business. I expect respect between the witness and counsel. Questions are going to be asked without commentary, answers are going to be given without comments. I understand the passion but there is no need for incivility,” Senior Justice Allen said.

Bridgewater and former paramedic Tarino Lightbourne are accused of attempts to extort $25 million from the actor following the death of his 16-year-old son, Jett, in Grand Bahamas on January 2.

During yesterday’s cross-examination Mr Ducille asked Mr McDermott whether he was the one who had instructed PLP Senator Allyson Maynard-Gibson, who is a lawyer, to go to Freeport to meet with Ms Bridgewater.

Mr McDermott replied, “I authorised her brother Clement Maynard to instruct her to go to Freeport. I didn’t speak to her directly.” When asked by Mr Ducille why he wanted Mrs Maynard-Gibson to go to Freeport, Mr McDermott explained that he wanted to have more information so that they could go to the police. Mr McDermott said that the first time he heard about the $25 million demand was through Mrs Maynard-Gibson.

Mr Ducille then asked, “When you came to Nassau on January 17, did you intend to negotiate with anyone?” Mr McDermott replied, “No.”

“My suggestion to you is that when you came to Nassau on the 17 of January you had evil intent in your heart,” Mr Ducille said. Mr McDermott again replied, “No.”

Mr Ducille further suggested to Mr McDermott that his sole mission was to set up Ms Bridgewater. Mr McDermott replied, “No, sir. It was to report to law enforcement what had transpired on that day.”

“What was all this with the video and audio apparatus being set up in your room?” Mr Ducille then asked.

Mr McDermott replied, “I reported the circumstances to police. They were not set up at my request.” Mr Ducille further suggested that there had been no demand, that he had been up to no good and that his trip to the Bahamas was a “sham.”

Mr McDermott replied, “My journey to the Bahamas was to inform authorities about all that had happened.”

Mr Ducille then suggested that he was the one who had made the offer of money and that he was the one who had pushed the negotiations. Mr McDermott denied the suggestion. Mr Ducille asked Mr McDermott if he had felt threatened by anyone in coming to the Bahamas. Mr McDermott replied, “No.”

During cross-examination by Lightbourne’s attorney Carlson Shurland, Mr McDermott was asked whether he had brought a contingent of lawyers when he came to Nassau in January. Mr McDermott said three attorneys accompanied him.

“Up to January 18, you did not know Tarino Lightbourne, the man?” Mr Shurland asked. Mr McDermott responded by saying, “No I did not know him at all.”

Mr McDermott said he had relayed the facts to law enforcement officials and it was up to them to do what they wanted to do with it,” Mr McDermott told the court.

Mr Shurland then suggested that the facts he gave regarding Tarino was based on hearsay evidence. Mr McDermott said that his complaint was based on conversations he had with West End and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe, Ms Bridgewater, Allyson Maynard-Gibson, Ronald Zupancic and discussions with Clement Maynard III, regarding the application of Bahamian law.

Jurors in the attempted extortion trial are expected to hear the taped meetings between Bridgewater, Lightbourne and Mr McDermott on Monday. Senior Justice Allen decided yesterday that rather than fragment the evidence by playing a taped telephone conversation between Bridgewater and McDermott yesterday and the two videotaped meetings on Monday, it would be better to have the jury see all on the same day.

October 03, 2009

tribune242




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October 3, 2009 | 2:01 PM Comments  0 comments

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