All posts containing the tag: "testify"
Posted Oct 1st 2009 12:01PM by TMZ Staff
John Travolta's lawyer just testified the whole extortion plot was hatched because one of the defendants was starstruck.
Michael McDermott testified he got the call from Pleasant Bridgewater ten days after Jett died. He said Pleasant told him her client had a "Refusal of Transport/Treatment" document signed by Travolta and felt it was worth a lot of money.
Now get this: McDermott said Pleasant said her client, paramedic Tarino Lightbourne, had kept the document instead of turning it in ... because it was "signed by a celebrity."
McDermott said Tarino shopped the document -- which Tarino proved Travolta either intentionally killed his son or recognized he was negligent in the supervision of the child.
Tarino thought the doc was firm evidence Travolta wanted to flee the jurisdiction with his son's dead body.
McDermott said Pleasant told him ... "put it this way, the doc can be John's or the world's."
McDermott says Bridgewater acknowledged it was extortion, but Tarino didn't care.
Filed under: John Travolta
Tags: document, jett, john travolta, JohnTravolta, lawyer, pleasant bridgewater, PleasantBridgewater, tarino lightbourne, TarinoLightbourne, testify
Posted Sep 22nd 2009 4:41PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has confirmed one of Dr. Conrad Murray's baby mamas will be called to testify before the L.A. County Grand Jury in the Michael Jackson investigation -- because she's not cooperating with the cops.
The L.A. County D.A. has asked the Grand Jury to put Nicole Alvarez under oath and testify about Dr. Murray's comings and goings around the time Jackson died.
Alvarez -- the mother of Dr. Murray's 7th child -- lives in Santa Monica, CA. As we first reported, law enforcement sources told us they believe Dr. Murray was actually living in Santa Monica during the time he was supposedly living at Jackson's house. Although we've heard he may have been living with Alvarez, we have not been able to confirm that.
This development does not mean the Grand Jury will decide whether to charge Dr. Murray with the death of Jackson -- this is merely an investigative tool law enforcement sometimes uses with uncooperative witnesses.
Filed under: Michael Jackson
Tags: baby mama, BabyMama, case, death, dr. conrad murray, Dr.ConradMurray, grand jury, GrandJury, los angeles, LosAngeles, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, nicole alvarez, NicoleAlvarez, testify
Posted Jun 22nd 2009 2:00AM by TMZ Staff
Rihanna has a big date with Chris Brown today ... along with a judge, a few lawyers and a courtroom full of onlookers.
RiRi is set to take the stand as a witness against Chris Brown in his preliminary hearing, which begins at 1:45 PM PT.
Rihanna's testimony is hugely important. Will she stick to the story she told cops the night of the beating? Rihanna said Brown had beaten her before and the violence was escalating.
One big question -- will Brown's lawyer, Mark Geragos, cross-examine Rihanna? We're told if the case goes to trial Geragos will make a big point that Rihanna was the initial aggressor, repeatedly hitting him before he began pounding on her.
Also hugely important ... the photos of Rihanna's battered face. We've published one pic graphically showing the brutality of the beating. But we're told that photo pales by comparison to photos taken the next day after the bruising and swelling settled. Those photos will almost certainly be introduced into evidence during the prelim.
The judge has rejected TV or livestream coverage. We'll have constant updates.
Filed under: Rihanna, Chris Brown
Tags: assault, chris brown, ChrisBrown, court, mark geragos, MarkGeragos, plea, rihanna, testify, trial
Posted Mar 12th 2009 4:55PM by TMZ Staff
Chris Brown's lawyer, Mark Geragos, has requested an unscheduled hearing even before Brown's arraignment in the alleged beating of Rihanna -- and it has to do with Rihanna testifying in the case -- or not testifying!
We've learned the case has been officially moved to L.A. County Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg. She's the judge who signed the search warrant in the case.
The hearing is set for March 23. It will take place in Judge Schnegg's chambers. Prosecutors will join Geragos but Chris Brown will not be present.
Geragos is the one who requested the meeting. We know it involves Rihanna's possible testimony in the case. Will Geragos ask the judge to block prosecutors from calling Rihanna or limiting her testimony? We don't know for sure.
We do know the meeting has nothing to do with a plea bargain.
The arraignment is still set for April 6.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Rihanna, Chris Brown
Tags: arraignment, chris brown, ChrisBrown, court, rihanna, Robyn Fenty, RobynFenty, testify, trial
