Socialite Rebecca Grossman pushes to toss double murder conviction

A wealthy Los Angeles socialite, Rebecca Grossman, is currently seeking to have her double murder conviction overturned after plowing her car into two young brothers on a crosswalk. In a recent appellate court hearing, her lawyer argued that the judge overseeing the trial did not provide adequate instructions to the jury before they found her guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of Jacob and Mark Iskander in Westlake Village.

Grossman, 62, is now pushing for a new trial, with her attorney, Lara Gressley, claiming that prosecutors failed to prove that the socialite was aware her actions would result in a high probability of death when she struck the Iskander brothers with her Mercedes SUV at a high speed after drinking. The tragic incident occurred during a family outing in Westlake Village in 2020, leaving the Iskander parents devastated.

During the trial, it was revealed that Grossman was driving up to 81 mph in a 45 mph zone in a residential neighborhood just before the fatal accident. A jury ultimately found her guilty of murder and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, as well as hit-and-run driving resulting in death. She was also ordered to pay $47,000 to the victims’ family.

Grossman, who was estranged from her plastic surgeon husband, Dr. Peter Grossman, at the time, was sentenced to 15 years to life for the deaths of the Iskander brothers. However, her lawyer argued that there were prejudicial elements and instructional errors during the trial, suggesting that Grossman did not display a conscious disregard for human life.

Acting Presiding Justice Carl Moor highlighted evidence presented during the trial, indicating that Grossman was engaged in reckless driving behavior, including racing and erratic lane changes, just before the fatal crash. He also mentioned a witness’s observation of Grossman’s lack of remorse and odd demeanor at the hospital following the incident.

Despite Grossman’s appeal, prosecutors insisted that it should be rejected. The Iskander family did not attend the recent hearing, as they have since moved out of California to start a new life away from the painful memories. A close family friend expressed dismay over Grossman’s lack of acknowledgment of her actions and the ongoing trauma experienced by the Iskander family.

While Grossman remains incarcerated, her attorney emphasized the importance of ensuring that the jury had all the necessary information to support a murder conviction. The appellate court will ultimately determine whether Grossman’s conviction will be overturned, potentially paving the way for a new trial in this tragic case.