All posts containing the tag: "bahamas"
Posted Sep 29th 2009 12:05PM by TMZ Staff
Sort of a stunning development a few minutes ago in the John Travolta extortion trial.
One of the key players who was involved with the secret taping of conversations between Travolta's lawyers and Pleasant Bridgewater just told the court -- although he was in the room next door listening to the conversations, he never heard anyone demand money in return for keeping documents secret.
The testimony is in conflict with the actual tapes, so what Detective Inspector Sean Saunders said in court is a mystery.
The judge just cleared the courtroom.
UPDATE: They're on a lunch break now.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, John Travolta
Tags: bahamas, extortion, jett travolta, JettTravolta, john travolta, JohnTravolta, pleasant bridgewater, PleasantBridgewater, secret video, SecretVideo
Posted Sep 29th 2009 10:20AM by TMZ Staff
The two defendants in the John Travolta extortion case are in deep trouble today -- the jury will see and hear the secret tapes which authorities say is the smoking gun.
Authorities say the secret police video shows the $25 million extortion plot in all it's glory.
Lawyers for Tarino Lightbourne and Pleasant Bridgewater tried keeping the video from the jury but the judge saw it differently.
We'll let you know how it goes down.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, John Travolta
Tags: bahamas, extortion, extortion trial, ExtortionTrial, jett, jett travolta, JettTravolta, john travolta, JohnTravolta, pleasant bridgewater, PleasantBridgewater, tarino lightbourne, TarinoLightbourne
Posted Sep 24th 2009 1:00AM by TMZ Staff
Secret police videos have captured the alleged extortionists in the John Travolta case in deep conflict ... with one defendant accusing the other of trying to settle way too cheap -- this according to law enforcement sources.
As we first reported yesterday, authorities have at least two videos of paramedic Tarino Lightbourne and attorney Pleasant Bridgewater demanding millions of dollars from John Travolta's lawyers, in return for not making a document public.
Our sources say Bridgewater is caught on tape demanding many millions of dollars, but another video shows Lightbourne outraged that Bridgewater demanded what he considered such a paltry sum. His demand was exponentially higher than hers, law enforcement sources tell TMZ.
We're told the videos show them haggling over money -- and although it's been reported the pair allegedly demanded $25 million, we're told they finally agreed to $15 mil.
We're also told lawyers for Bridgewater and Lightbourne will make a motion today to suppress the videos, on grounds they were illegally recorded.
And there's a sticky problem -- we're told one of the key Bahamian cops in the video sting was seriously injured "under suspicious circumstances" and is unable to testify.
Travolta has not finished testifying. We're told he has left the Bahamas and will return next week to complete his testimony.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, John Travolta, Exclusives
Tags: bahamas, extortion, extortion plot, ExtortionPlot, jett, john travolta, JohnTravolta, millions, money, pleasant bridgewater, PleasantBridgewater, secret video, SecretVideo, tarino lightbourne, TarinoLightbourne, testimony, video
Posted Sep 23rd 2009 9:21AM by TMZ Staff
John Travolta just walked into court in the Bahamas with wife Kelly Preston -- where he'll testify in the extortion over their son's death.
Travolta will testify about his interaction with the paramedic/defendant while they were trying to save his son. He will also testify about his reaction to the alleged extortion demand.
Travolta arrived at the courthouse surrounded by Bahamas police officers.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, John Travolta, Exclusives
Tags: bahamas, court, extortion, jett travolta, JettTravolta, john travolta, JohnTravolta, kelly preston, KellyPreston, trial
Posted Sep 23rd 2009 2:00AM by TMZ Staff
We've learned John Travolta will be the first witness called today in the extortion trial over his son's death -- and after John steps down from the stand, there will be a legal dogfight in the courtroom over what could be the smoking gun in the case.
Sources say Travolta will testify for less than two hours. When he finishes, we're told defense lawyers will mount an objection to the introduction of a secret videotape which allegedly shows the attempted extortion played out.
The video was shot by authorities in the Bahamas. It shows Travolta's lawyers listening attentively as the alleged $25 million extortion demand is laid out on the table.
Prosecutors say former state senator/attorney Pleasant Bridgewater and paramedic Tarino Lightbourne threatened to release an essentially irrelevant document connected to Jett's death unless Travolta anted up.
We're told one video features Bridgewater and another vid puts the spotlight on Lightbourne.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, John Travolta, Exclusives
Tags: bahamas, extortion, jett travolta, JettTravolta, john travolta, JohnTravolta, pleasantbridgewater, tarinolightbourne
Posted Sep 21st 2009 7:15AM by TMZ Staff
Sources connected with John Travolta tell TMZ the actor's testimony in the extortion trial over his son's death will focus on two issues -- John's interaction with a paramedic/defendant as they tried to save his son ... and John's emotional reaction to the alleged plot.
As we first reported, Travolta will travel to the Bahamas and take the stand this week in the trial of paramedic Tarino Lightbourne and former Senator Pleasant Bridgewater. The pair is accused of trying to extort $25 million from Travolta by threatening to go public with a document that could have relieved medical responders of liability. Ironically, the document had no relevance.
Sources say Travolta will testify about his interaction with paramedic Lightbourne, who tried to revive Jett Travolta after he suffered a massive seizure at the family's Bahamian vacation home.
We're told once the extortion demand was allegedly made, Travolta had no direct contact with any of the alleged extortionists. But sources say prosecutors will ask Travolta about his reaction once he learned of the plot just days after his son's death. This will almost certainly be the most dramatic and emotional part of the trial which could have enormous impact.
Our sources say Kelly Preston will not testify.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, John Travolta, Exclusives
Tags: bahamas, extortion, jett travolta, JettTravolta, john travolta, JohnTravolta, kelly preston, KellyPreston, Pleasant Bridgewater, PleasantBridgewater, Tarino Lightbourne, TarinoLightbourne, trial
Posted Sep 19th 2009 11:00AM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has confirmed John Travolta will testify next week at the extortion trial involving the death of his son, Jett.
Travolta will travel to the Bahamas to testify on behalf of the prosecution. Paramedic Tarino Lightbourne and former politician Pleasant Bridgewater allegedly demanded $25 million in return for not going public with a document which authorized paramedics to take 16-year-old Jett to a hospital via ambulance after suffering a massive seizure.
We're told Travolta and wife Kelly Preston are outraged by the alleged extortion plot which authorities say was concocted shortly after Jett's death.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, John Travolta
Tags: 25 million, 25Million, bahamas, death, extortion, extortion plot, extortion trial, ExtortionPlot, ExtortionTrial, jett, jett travolta, JettTravolta, john travolta, JohnTravolta, kelly preston, KellyPreston, pleasant bridgewater, PleasantBridgewater, seizure, tarino lightbourne, TarinoLightbourne, trial
Posted Aug 20th 2009 4:00PM by TMZ Staff
A bunch of Miss Universe contestants from all over the world partied in The Bahamas last night -- and after watching some of them get down and dirty on the dance floor, it's clear who's got the most "talent."
Filed under: Paparazzi Video, Beauty, Hot Bodies, Pageantry
Tags: atlantis, bahamas, beauty queens, BeautyQueens, dancing, hot, miss universe, MissUniverse, pageant
Posted Jul 9th 2009 5:15PM by TMZ Staff
Married almost four years, Ashton Kutcher, 31, and Demi Moore, 46, still have the toned and taut physiques of college kids on spring break.
The Ugly Truth:: Most people's bods go downhill after getting hitched.
Filed under: Hook-Ups, Paparazzi Photo, Hot Bodies, Ashton & Demi
Tags: abs, Ashton Kutcher, AshtonKutcher, bahamas, body, Demi Moore, DemiMoore
Posted May 21st 2009 8:50AM by TMZ Staff
Looking like a physically fit mother of two, a bikini-clad Britney Spears vacationed in the Bahamas with her kids and her conservator dad.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Britney Spears, Photo Galleries, Stars in Heat
Tags: Bahamas, Britney Spears, BritneySpears, photos, pictures
Posted Apr 28th 2009 6:02PM by TMZ Staff
Pleasant Bridgewater and Tarino Lightbourne -- who allegedly conspired to extort John Travolta out of $25 million dollars -- have just pled not guilty in Bahamian court.
Bridgewater -- a former Bahamian Senator -- was charged with abatement to extort and Lightbourne -- Jett's EMT -- with attempted extortion. They allegedly tried to extort Travolta over information surrounding the death of his son, Jett.
We're told John and Obie Wilchcombe, a family friend, will be called as witnesses in the case.
The alleged extortionists' bail remains at $50,000 each.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, John Travolta
Tags: Bahamas, extort, Jett Travolta, JettTravolta, John Travolta, JohnTravolta, Pleasant Bridgewater, PleasantBridgewater, Tarino Lightbourne, TarinoLightbourne
Posted Feb 17th 2009 8:30AM by TMZ Staff
Tarino Lightbourne, one of the people accused of trying to extort John Travolta, was released from the pokey Monday after posting bond.
Lightbourne, an EMT in the Bahamas, had been hangin' in Fox Hill Prison since his arrest last month.
Lighbourne and a cohort allegedly tried extorting $25 mil from Travolta over a rather meaningless document connected with the death of his son, Jett.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, John Travolta
Tags: Bahamas, EMT, extortion, Jett Travolta, JettTravolta, John Travolta, JohnTravolta, Tarino Lightbourne, TarinoLightbourne
Posted Apr 11th 2007 11:19AM by TMZ Staff
Yesterday was a day of celebration for the DNA victorious Larry Birkhead. Shortly after the news of Dannielynn's paternity was announced, Birkhead did some victory laps -- in a pool with his adorable niece and nephew.
While a huge weight has been lifted from Larry's shoulders, it looks like he'll still have heavyweight Virgie Arthur to contend with in a custody hearing.
It seems that Larry will be a swimmingly good dad, and Dannielynn will have some happy cousins to play with. *Sniff*
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Anna Nicole Smith
Tags: bahamas, beach, dannielynn, father, frolic, Larry Birkhead, LarryBirkhead, nephew, niece, paternity, playing, swimming
Posted Mar 12th 2007 10:08AM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has obtained voicemail messages left on Anna Nicole Smith's cellphone back in December, and it is apparent that the then Minister of Immigration, Shane Gibson, was really into calling the former Playboy playmate.
From Friday, December 15, 2006 through Sunday, December 17, Gibson left six messages and called an additional time without leaving one.
The recorded time stamp is from Anna's cell phone in Los Angeles. Gibson was calling three hours later than the stamp reveals because he was in the Bahamas.
One call comes in at 9:05 PM PST on Saturday, December 16, which means Gibson was calling after midnight his time.
Gibson, who was instrumental in obtaining legal residency for Anna Nicole in the Bahamas, seemed determined to get in touch with Anna. Smith got the greenlight for residency on September 22, even though there were serious questions as to whether she qualified.
Gibson resigned his post after photos surfaced showing Gibson and Smith fully clothed in an embrace in Anna's bed. Gibson says he was friends with Anna, but nothing more.
Filed under: Anna Nicole Smith
Tags: anna nicole smith, AnnaNicoleSmith, bahamas, shane gibson, ShaneGibson
Posted Feb 19th 2007 1:59PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned the Commissioner of Police in the Bahamas has received "an official complaint" against former Minister of Immigration Shane Gibson -- and the Commissioner is now conducting a formal investigation.
Gibson resigned after photos surfaced showing a chummy relationship between himself and Anna Nicole Smith. Gibson green-lit Smith's petition for residency, even though it's questionable she was entitled to receive it.
Police sources would not say who or what agency filed the complaint. We're told, however, that the Commissioner is required to investigate. Sources would not say if the investigation involves possible criminal misconduct.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Anna Nicole Smith
Tags: Anna Nicole Smith, AnnaNicoleSmith, Bahamas, Shane Gibson
