this post was submitted on 11 Jun 2024
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/16402340

California socialite Rebecca Grossman sentenced to 15 to life for killing 2 kids in crosswalk

A wealthy California woman who co-founded a burn center foundation in the Los Angeles area was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison Monday for the hit-and-run killings of two children while they were in a crosswalk more than three years ago.

Rebecca Grossman was speeding when she struck and killed Mark Iskander, 11, and his brother Jacob, 8, while they were in a crosswalk in the Los Angeles-area city of Westlake Village on Sept. 29, 2020.

“The loss of these two innocent lives has devastated their family and our community. Ms. Grossman’s blatant disregard for human life is a stark reminder of the grave consequences of irresponsible behavior behind the wheel,” Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement.

A jury convicted Grossman in February on two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death.

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[–] kandoh@reddthat.com 24 points 4 months ago

The key pieces of evidence that led to Rebecca Grossman's conviction for killing Mark and Jacob Iskander were:

  1. Eyewitness testimony that Grossman's white Mercedes SUV struck the two boys in the crosswalk, including from Susan Manners who saw Grossman's vehicle hit Mark, and Yasamin Eftekhari and Jake Sands who saw Grossman's car hit Jacob.[3][4]

  2. Data from Grossman's vehicle showing she was driving at excessive speeds of up to 81 mph in a 45 mph zone, braking lightly just 1.5 seconds before impact at 73 mph.[1][3]

  3. Physical evidence at the scene, including pieces of Grossman's damaged Mercedes found near the crosswalk and the location of damage on the front of her vehicle consistent with striking the boys.[3][5]

  4. Grossman's disoriented state when approached by a sheriff's deputy after the crash, with her airbag deployed, suggesting impairment.[1][5]

  5. Testimony from Nancy Iskander, the boys' mother, who witnessed the collision and was certain Grossman's vehicle struck her sons despite Grossman's denials.[1][5]

  6. Testimony disputing the defense's claim that another vehicle driven by Grossman's ex-boyfriend Scott Erickson struck the boys first, with witnesses stating Erickson's black SUV did not hit them.[3][5]

The cumulative eyewitness accounts, vehicle data, physical evidence, and Grossman's behavior provided overwhelming proof that she recklessly caused the deaths while driving under the influence.[1][3][4][5]

Citations: [1] Trial of Rebecca Grossman, accused of killing two boys with her car ... https://www.courthousenews.com/trial-of-rebecca-grossman-accused-of-killing-two-boys-with-her-car-comes-to-a-close/ [2] Rebecca Grossman trial: Evidence that led to conviction in deadly ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh3zX9XM7lM [3] Rebecca Grossman jury must decide level of malice, dueling claims ... https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-02-23/la-me-rebecca-grossman-case-closing [4] Rebecca Grossman found guilty of murder : r/LosAngeles - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/LosAngeles/comments/1aygwjm/rebecca_grossman_found_guilty_of_murder/ [5] Rebecca Grossman trial: Breaking down the evidence that led to ... https://www.foxla.com/news/rebecca-grossman-trial-evidence-conviction

[–] Nouveau_Burnswick@lemmy.world 22 points 4 months ago

What are the odds she gets her license back during parole? 🤔

[–] Glifted@lemmy.world 15 points 4 months ago (3 children)

15 years (which she probably won't serve) doesn't feel like accountability. It feels like a slap in the face.

[–] Albbi@lemmy.ca 26 points 4 months ago (1 children)

If the kids were on bikes instead of on a crosswalk it would have been much less. If you want to kill someone, do it with a car.

[–] granolabar@kbin.melroy.org 2 points 4 months ago

Don't forgot to be "fearful for your life"

Works with guns too btw

[–] PeteBauxigeg@lemm.ee 18 points 4 months ago (1 children)

15 years ago was 2009. Minecraft has been out for 15 years and a month. It's a long, long, long time for someone who didn't actually intend to become a killer that day. It's also not going to serve as a deterrent for anyone.

[–] Glifted@lemmy.world 18 points 4 months ago

I'd agree with the sentence (or preferably even less time) if she hadn't tried to run afterwards. It's one thing to make a terrible mistake and own up to it. It's another thing entirely to try to get away with it. Especially considering these were two kids. Fuck her.

[–] regul@lemm.ee 16 points 4 months ago

As someone who views prison as rehabilitative and not punitive, I could not disagree more.

[–] Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone 15 points 4 months ago (3 children)

A crosswalk in a 45 mph zone sounds like an accident waiting to happen. I'm not disputing that this woman belongs behind bars, though.

[–] Holzkohlen@feddit.de 6 points 4 months ago

Ban cars, make it a 10 mph zone. Either one is fine

[–] TenderfootGungi@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago

I take my kids across a 45 mph crosswalk. It has blinking red traffic lights if you push the crosswalk button. A large percentage of cars don’t even slow down. We wait for a row of cars to actually stop before crossing.

[–] bitchkat@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

People can't cross feeder roads?

[–] TenderfootGungi@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago

It is hard to believe they got even this token (she won’t serve it) sentence in the US. We seem to accept that killing someone with a car is fine.