JOHN TRAVOLTA - TRAVOLTA PROSECUTORS URGE JURY TO FOCUS ON SECRET TAPES

TRAVOLTA PROSECUTORS URGE JURY TO FOCUS ON SECRET TAPES

Prosecutors in the JOHN TRAVOLTA extortion case have urged a jury in the Bahamas not to "vilify" the actor's legal team for attempting to catch the suspects red-handed.
Paramedic Tarino Lightbourne and former Bahamas senator Pleasant Bridgewater are facing charges of conspiracy to extort $25 million (£17.2 million) from the grieving star after his teenage son Jett suffered a fatal seizure at the resort in January (09).
The pair reportedly threatened to release a Refusal of Treatment/Transportation form, which Travolta signed after requesting paramedics drive his son to the airport. He initially believed it would be faster to fly the 16 year old to a hospital in Florida for treatment, but subsequently changed his mind.
Bridgewater and Lightbourne supposedly planned to leak the document to the press, suggesting Travolta's actions had delayed treatment for his son.
During closing arguments in a Nassau courtroom on Monday (19Oct09), the prosecution asked the jury to focus on the secret recordings of negotiations between the accused and Travolta's attorneys, insisting the evidence should be enough to convict them.
On one tape, Lightbourne can be heard telling Travolta's attorney Michael MCDermott, "I was poor all my life, you know, me and my family. We struggling (sic) all my life. I wanted to do things for charity all of my life. I assume I'm in a position now, not only for me to help the less fortunate out there - so that figure ($20 million) just come (sic) to my head."
Defence lawyers have argued that Lightbourne and Bridgewater were set up by Travolta's legal team - but prosecutor Bernard Turner has told the court, "They were just trying to do the right thing. They shouldn't be vilified for doing the right thing."
The defence is set to outline its closing arguments on Tuesday (20Oct09).
Lightbourne and Bridgewater have pleaded not guilty to the charges.