Travolta jurors 'shown hidden-camera tape'

WENN

Jurors have been shown a hidden-camera tape of the ex-senator accused of attempting to blackmail John Travolta.

The Saturday Night Fever star recently arrived at the trial of paramedic Tarino Lightbourn and his attorney, former Bahamian senator Pleasant Bridgewater.

The pair are alleged to have attempted to blackmail Travolta by going public with a medical document relating to his son Jett's death. The 16-year-old passed away from a fatal seizure in January while on a family holiday in the Bahamas.

Members of the jury watched Bridgewater meet with Travolta's lawyer Michael McDermott, The AP reports.

On the tape, the ex-politician asked the attorney for $20 million (£13.7 million) not to release the papers. Bahamian police had previously set up cameras in a hotel room for the January 19 meeting between the pair.

During the encounter, Bridgewater phoned Lightbourn to tell him that McDermott was prepared to offer $250,000 (£157,000).

She then informed the attorney that the paramedic responded by saying: "My mortgage is more than that. It's obvious that you can't handle this deal. I can't do it for $250,000. Just tell me when I can come and get my document from you."

Prosecutors in the case said that the two defendants agreed to accept $10 million (£6.9 million) over a four-year period before being arrested. Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Travolta recently testified that Lightbourn demanded $25 million (£15.6 million) not to name the actor as "culpable" in his child's death.