John Travolta 'Betrayed' & 'Duped' Me, Claims Man Charged With Extortion
Sept. 3 2010, Published 11:55 a.m. ET
The man who allegedly tried to extort $25 million from John Travolta claims the Hollywood actor is “betraying” him, RadarOnline.com is reporting.
Ex-ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne, who is accused along with attorney Pleasant Bridgewater of a plot to extort money from the Grease star, says he has been “duped” by the actor who had promised to drop charges against them.
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"I feel betrayed,” said Lightbourne, who is accused, along with Bridgewater, of threatening to sell a one-page “refusal to transport” document that Travolta signed when he was treating his 16-year-old son, Jett.
“We had an agreement. I feel betrayed by Mr. Travolta.”
The retrial is now set to begin on Monday in Nassau.
"As far as I am aware, it is still on," Deputy Director of Prosecutions, Franklyn Williams, told a local newspaper.
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Lightbourne has claimed he met with Travolta’s attorneys last month where they struck a deal, agreeing that as long as he did not take part in any interviews, movies, book deals or speak to any media, the charges against him would be dropped.
"We took his word for it,” he said.
“Now it's all over the newspapers, the press, the Internet and we're hearing all kind of things.
"As we understood, my attorney called the AG's office and spoke with the prosecutors and they indicated that they have no instructions not to proceed with the trial.
"So we are preparing for the trial which commences on Monday."
Travolta’s son Jett died after hitting his head on a bath and suffering a seizure.
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