D Friday, October 23, 2009 METRO 11 Travolta extortion case is declared a mistrialBy MARCUS MESIDOR Travolta: Faces more torment Torture ordeal woman admits it was all lies A WOMAN who accused seven white people of beating her with sticks, forcing her to eat faeces, raping her and taunting her with racial slurs in a trailer in West Virginia has recanted her claims. The suspects pleaded guilty and six were sent to prison, but now Megan Williams, who is black, is saying she lied in 2007 because she wanted revenge on a boyfriend who had beaten her. Ms Williams, 22, whose mother had described her as slow, said she has received death- threat phone calls. Prosecutors dismissed her new claim saying the defendants were convicted on their statements and physical evidence. The US Navys Littoral combat ship Independence (LCS2) is seen under way during trials. Part of the new generation of speedy warships designed to operate close to shore, LCS2 topped 45 knots (72kmh), and sustained 44 knots (70kmh) during a four-hour, full-speed sprint Picture: AP SeaS The day Nicole: Hollywood is sexist NICOLE KIDMAN yesterday admitted that Hollywood was partly to blame for portraying women as weak sex objects as she testified before a US congressional panel. The UN goodwill ambassador (pictured) added she was not interested in roles which demean females, but insisted the film industry had made an effort to end violence against women. She said: I cant be responsible for all of Hollywood but I can certainly be responsible for my own career. She was speaking at a committee considering legislation to deal with violence against women overseas through humanitarian relief efforts and grants. ACTOR John Travolta is both stunned and upset that his Bahamas extortion case has been declared a mistrial, his lawyer has revealed. And the heartbroken star is thought to be distressed he will have to return to the island to relive his sons death once again for a retrial. Jett Travolta died in January in the Bahamas aged 16 fol- lowing a seizure at the familys home. Pleasant Bridgewater, a former member of the Bahamian Senate, is accused of trying to negotiate a 16.5million pay- out for paramedic Tarino Lightbourne in exchange for not selling stories suggesting Mr Travolta was at fault over the death. They are both charged with extortion. After nearly four weeks of hearings, which included emo- tional evidence from the actor, the jury in Freeport were fi- nally deliberating their decision. But eight hours into the deliberations, Supreme Court Judge Anita Allen declared a mistrial because of jury misconduct. A local politician had announced that the jury had returned their verdict and Bridgewater had been acquitted. The news of the acquittal then reached local television two hours before the jury foreman told the judge the nine- member jury was still having difficulty reaching a decision. Soon after, the judge said she reluctantly had to order a new trial in the interest of justice. She said she was concerned about possible communication from the jury room. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html