Posted Oct 29th 2009 2:30PM by TMZ Staff
The lawmaker who ruined the John Travolta extortion trial is as lucky as he is dumb -- a judge decided today not to punish him for his monumental mistake.
Senior Justice Anita Allen told Picewell Forbes -- who announced defendant Pleasant Bridgewater was innocent before the jury had come to a decision -- he had been "rightly ridiculed locally and internationally ... It is my opinion that you have suffered enough."
Forbes avoided being charged with contempt of court -- which could have landed him a fine or jail time -- by claiming he was only repeating a rumor he had heard about the verdict.
In case you forgot what it sounds like when an extortion trial gets flushed down the toilet ... here's audio and video of Picewell screaming "Pleasant Bridgewater is a free woman" over and over.
Filed under: John Travolta
Tags: extortion, john travolta, JohnTravolta, lawmaker, picewell forbes, PicewellForbes
Posted Oct 22nd 2009 4:07PM by TMZ Staff
The Bahamian buffoon who blew the whole John Travolta extortion trial is about to have his own day in court ... because the judge in the case wants him to explain himself in person.
Lawmaker Picewell Forbes has been summoned to appear before the judge, so he can explain why he blurted out that one of the extortion defendants was found not guilty ... before the jury had even made their decision.
Forbes' colossal screw-up was made at a convention for the Progressive Liberal Party last night -- in front of hundreds of people and multiple recording devices.
Forbes' attorney said the lawmaker was just repeating a rumor he hadn't actually verified himself -- which somehow makes him look even dumber than before.
The PLP has since apologized ... guess that didn't cut it.
Filed under: John Travolta
Tags: john travolta, JohnTravolta, judge, mistrial, picewell forbes, PicewellForbes, pleasant bridgewater, PleasantBridgewater, progressive liberal party, ProgressiveLiberalParty, tarine lightbourne, TarineLightbourne
