(ProsperNews.net) – A Los Angeles socialite has been jailed for 15 years for killing two boys after striking them with her car. A jury convicted Rebecca Grossman of second-degree murder for the deaths of 8-year-old Jacob Iskander and his 11-year-old brother Mark while they crossed an LA street in 2020. Tests show that Grossman had alcohol and prescription drugs in her system at the time.
Prosecutors sought a 34-year jail term for the socialite, but Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Joseph Brandolino rejected this, saying it was “unwarranted” and Grossman is “not a monster.” However, Judge Brandolino noted her “incredibly selfish behavior” and said she had devastated a family.
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón issued a statement saying Ms. Grossman’s blatant disregard for others’ safety was a reminder of the need to exercise caution when driving and of the often terrible consequences of irresponsible behavior.
The sentencing brings a four-year legal drama to an end, with prosecutors claiming that Grossman showed no remorse and had tried to manipulate events in her favor. Prosecutors Habib Balian, Ryan Gould, and Jamie Castro argued she deserved maximum jail time because of her sense of “narcissistic superiority” and refusal to take responsibility. They added that Grossman had attempted to blame others for her actions, including the boys and their mother and her boyfriend, Scott Erickson, whom she was racing at 81 mph when the tragedy occurred.
Erickson, a former Dodgers player, drank cocktails with Grossman at a nearby restaurant that afternoon, and the court heard that after striking the boys, she continued to drive for half a mile before stopping.
James Spertus, Grossman’s attorney, painted a very different picture of his client, however. He described her as a humanitarian who had spent years helping domestic violence victims and supporting various charities. Grossman’s legal team told the jury that their client had endured intense suffering as a child, including sexual abuse. Her son Nick described her as a “very spiritual person.”
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