John Travolta in £18m blackmail scandal

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John and Jett Travolta, news, Marie Claire

John Travolta is at the centre of an £18million blackmail trial over his 'refusal' to give his dying son medical treatment.

A paramedic is accused of blackmailing the star and threatening to publish a 'refusal of medical attention' form in which John initially refused help for his teenage son.

Jett Travolta suffered a massive seizure at the family's holiday home in the Bahamas in January.

When paramedic Tarino Lightbourne arrived at Travolta's home, the Saturday Night Fever star asked the ambulance crew to drive Jett, 16, to the airport - not to the hospital on the island.

Senior police officer Inspector Andrew Wells said it was the first time he had heard such a request in 27 years.

The 'refusal of medical attention' form signed by Wells is now at the centre of the blackmail trail, which opened in the Bahamas yesterday.

Lightbourne is accused of holding onto the document and threatening to release it to the media, unless John paid him £18million.

Lightbourne and his accomplice Pleasant Bridgewater were caught on camera demanding millions from the actor in exchange for the form.

It is not known why the duo thought Travolta would want to keep the form a secret. They have both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Jett, seen here with John as a toddler, was taken to the local hospital but died soon after.

A friend told People magazine that it was hard for John and his wife Kelly Preston to go back to the Bahamas for the trial.

'The memories were too painful,' said the source. 'He had to dig deep in order to return.'

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