A former Bahamas senator accused of attempting to extort $25 million fromJohn Travolta has protested her innocence, telling a Nassau court she is"no devil".Politician and lawyer Pleasant Bridgewater and paramedic Tarino Lightbourne are on trial in the Bahamas on charges of conspiracy to extort moneyfrom the grieving actor after his teenage son Jett suffered a fatal seizure in January (09).
The pair reportedly threatened to release a Refusal of TreatmentTransportation form, which the actor signed after requesting paramedics drive his son to the airport.
Travolta initially believed it would be faster to fly Jett to a hospital in Florida for treatment, but subsequently changedhis mind.
Bridgewater and Lightbourne supposedly planned to leak the document to the press, suggesting Travolta's actions had delayed treatment for his son.
The pair reportedly threatened to release a Refusal of TreatmentTransportation form, which the actor signed after requesting paramedics drive his son to the airport
The defendants appeared in court on Wednesday (14Oct09) but refused to take the witness stand, choosing instead to read prepared unsworn statements directly to the jury.
Bridgewater claimed she had been set up by Travolta's legal team and subjected to ridicule since the allegations arose earlier this year (09).
She stated, "I maintain my innocence. I will be the first to say I am no saint. But I am no devil".
Lightbourne also declared his innocence, insisting he had no idea what extortion was and is still unclear as to its meaning.