Charges dropped in Travolta extortion case

Charges against two people accused of trying to extort money from John Travolta after the death of his teenage son in the Bahamas were dropped by a judge today.

Prosecutor Neil Braithwaite submitted a motion to dismiss the case at the request of the Hollywood star and his family.

It comes as a retrial in Nassau was about to start for two defendants accused of attempting to extort $25m (€19.4m) from Travolta.

A mistrial was declared in October after a politician suggested the still-deliberating jury had acquitted one of the suspects.

Jett Travolta, 16, died of a seizure in January 2009 while the family were on holiday in the Bahamas. Travolta confirmed after the death that Jett was autistic.

Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston, who have a daughter Ella aged 10, announced earlier this year that they were expecting a new baby.

The 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Grease' star and his actress wife spent a year out of the public spotlight grieving for Jett.