Jury selected for Travolta extortion trial

? A jury was selected Monday for a trial that could see John Travolta take the stand against two people accused of trying to extort $25 million from the movie star following his son’s death in the Bahamas.

Travolta is on a list of 14 witnesses against the defendants — a former Bahamas senator and an ambulance driver — who allegedly threatened to release a document related to the treatment of his chronically ill son Jett.

His testimony would mark a break from the low profile that Travolta and his wife, actress Kelly Preston, have kept since their 16-year-old son died from a seizure at a family vacation home on Grand Bahama island on Jan. 2.

Travolta, 55, skipped the publicity tour this summer for his latest film, “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3.” He posted a note on his personal Web site in June thanking his co-stars for their efforts to promote the picture, which gave the family additional time to grieve.

The nine-person jury is expected to begin hearing evidence today, but prosecutors declined to say when Travolta might take the stand or whether he is in the country.

Travolta’s attorneys referred calls to his publicist, Paul Bloch, who said he would not comment on the actor’s plans because “this is an ongoing criminal matter.”

Former Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater and paramedic Tarino Lightbourne, who was among those who tried to revive Jett after he collapsed, have pleaded innocent to charges including conspiracy to commit extortion.

Before the start of jury selection, defense lawyers argued unsuccessfully for a delay, saying they needed more time to press prosecutors to hand over evidence.

Both defendants have been free on bail.