PLP MP Picewell Forbes' pre-mature and inaccurate declaration ? which prompted Senior Justice Anita Allen to order a retrial Wednesday night in Pleasant Bridgewater's high profile attempted extortion case ? has landed him in court.

Forbes told The Nassau Guardian yesterday that he will go before Allen today at 10 a.m. (Friday)

At that time, he is expected to give an account of how he obtained the information (which proved to be false) that former Senator Bridgewater had been acquitted.

Bridgewater along with ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne were on trial for allegedly attempting to extort $25 million from Hollywood actor John Travolta after his son, Jett, died in Grand Bahama on January 2.

During the opening night of the PLP's 51st national convention at the Wyndham Nassau Resort, Forbes declared to hundreds of party supporters that Bridgewater "was a free woman". It came during a speech he was delivering live on television and radio stations.

At the time of the announcement, jurors were still deliberating. Unaware Forbes' declaration was incorrect, PLP supporters celebrated by singing and dancing to the song "Oh Happy Day".

Fearing that there was a leak in the jury room, Allen discharged the nine-member jury around 11 p.m.

"I am very, very reluctant to discharge you but in the interest of justice, having heard the views of counsel, we are concerned. It leaves the impression that there may have been a communication from the jury room," Allen told jurors.

The PLP has since offered an unequivocal apology.

Party Leader Perry Christie told reporters yesterday that despite reports, the PLP did not force a re-trial.

"Regrettably, I've had the occasion to say before, the PLP is the PLP," Christie said. "And the PLP as a political party did not speak and did not act because the PLP is the sum total of those of us who fall under its umbrella. One of our members was on the platform and one of our members spoke. There is no doubt whatsoever that we did the correct thing in providing an unqualified apology to the court and I will speak further to that matter when I speak at the convention."

Noting that the matter was going before the court, Christie said that was all he would say.

The attempted extortion trial, which began last month, had been going on for five weeks. It is unknown when the new trial will start.

source KRYSTEL ROLLE - Nassau Guardian