Judge Upholds Convictions in Rebecca Grossman Hit-and-Run Case
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge on Monday denied Rebecca Grossman's request to overturn her murder convictions stemming from a 2020 hit-and-run that killed two young brothers. Grossman, a wealthy socialite, was convicted in February of this year for the second-degree murders of Mark (11) and Jacob Iskander (8) in a marked crosswalk in Westlake Village, California.
Grossman's attorneys argued that prosecutors had provided insufficient evidence and had misled the jury, claiming her actions constituted a tragedy rather than murder. Despite their claims, Judge Joseph Brandolino ruled that the prosecution demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt that Grossman acted with implied malice, essential for a second-degree murder conviction. He cited Grossman's high-speed driving and her awareness of the dangers, including a prior warning about the risks of speeding.
The crash occurred on September 29, 2020, when Grossman, driving while mildly impaired by alcohol, struck the brothers in a 45 mph zone while racing with her then-boyfriend, Scott Erickson, at speeds between 73 and 81 mph. After the collision, Grossman did not immediately stop to assist the children.
Grossman, 62, who appeared in court in handcuffs and jail overalls, is set to be sentenced next week and faces 34 years to life in prison.