The married LA socialite accused of fatally crashing into two brothers was “racing” her MLB participant lover after day-drinking at lunch, prosecutors will declare because the trial’s jury choice course of started Tuesday.
Rebecca Grossman faces two counts of second-degree homicide for allegedly plowing into and killing 8-year-old Jacob Iskander and his brother Mark Iskander, 11, whereas they crossed a crosswalk in Westlake Village on Sept. 29, 2020.
Grossman, the spouse of distinguished burn surgeon Dr. Peter Grossman, was driving behind former New York Mets and Yankees pitcher Scott Erickson moments earlier than the crash, in response to the LA Instances, citing police investigators.
The courtroom will now be allowed to show to jurors that Grossman, 60, was within the midst of a love affair with Erickson on the time of the crash, in response to a current ruling by Los Angeles County Superior Court docket Decide Joseph Brandolino.
Almost three years after the deadly crash, the prosecution shared the findings of Grossman and Erickson’s relationship, after believing “The protection intends to argue that the black automotive that’s at problem on this specific state of affairs shouldn’t be Erickson’s.”
“The folks intend to place forth proof that it was, in reality, Erickson,” LA Prosecutor Jamie Castro informed the outlet. “We’re not seeking to get into any salacious info.”
The 2 had allegedly been out consuming cocktails in Westlake Village earlier than entering into their SUVs with Erickson main, the outlet added.
“The velocity was insane,” the boy’s mom, Nancy Iskander, informed the outlet. “They had been zigzagging with one another as in the event that they had been enjoying or racing.”
The mom stated as she observed the SUVs barreling towards them as she and her three sons crossed the crosswalk.
Iskander signaled for the dashing autos to decelerate then grabbed her 5-year-old son and dove for security.
Mark Iskander died on the scene, whereas his brother died on the hospital a number of hours later.
“They didn’t cease earlier than the intersection. They didn’t cease on the intersection. They didn’t cease when an 11-year-old was on the hood of the automotive. No person stopped,” the heartbroken mom informed the outlet.
The socialite’s breathalyzer check following the crash confirmed a blood-alcohol content material of 0.076%, in response to the LA Instances.
A blood pattern taken three hours after the crash registered at 0.08%, exhibiting she was illegally over the restrict to drive in California.
Erickson, now 55, was charged with a misdemeanor, however his case was resolved when he was ordered to make a PSA for highschool college students in regards to the significance of driving safely in Feb. 2022.
Erickson’s legal professional has been adamant that his consumer wasn’t racing or driving recklessly and had no involvement within the hit-and-run that killed the boys.
“He wasn’t racing. He’s charged with one rely of reckless driving. He wasn’t driving recklessly. He had nothing to do with this accident, actually, he didn’t, and any suggestion that he did is simply false,” legal professional Mark Werksman informed the Los Angeles Each day Information in Feb. 2021.
“He didn’t witness the accident or have any half in inflicting it or play any function in it,” Werksman stated.
As her case heads to trial, Grossman has insisted her automotive didn’t hit the boys and denied driving at 81mph.
Prosecutors additionally plan to indicate proof that Grossman had Valium in her system through the crash, which additional impaired her means to drive — regardless of no cost of driving beneath the affect, in response to the 2020 police report.
To safe second-degree homicide convictions, prosecutors should show that Grossman was conscious that the speed of velocity she was driving in a residential space was harmful to human life.
Robert Apodaca, a former LA County sheriff’s deputy and site visitors crashes specialist, will testify to the courtroom that Grossman was driving 71.7 mph when she struck the boys and that the automotive pc confirmed 73 mph, in response to the outlet.
Whereas beneath cross-examination through the case’s preliminary listening to, Apodaca stated 11-year-old Mark Iskander was struck with such drive that he was launched 254 ft.
Apodaca famous that it was the furthest he’d ever recognized a human to be that violently tossed in a crash, in response to the outlet.
She additionally faces two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one rely of hit-and-run driving leading to loss of life.
Grossman, who has been out on a $2 million bond, may resist 34 years to life in jail if convicted.