Prosecutors asked a judge to revoke Rebecca Grossman’s $2 million bond and throw her in jail after accusing her of leaking confidential information about her case to a TV reporter and trying to embarrass the jury. influence that currently decides her fate.
Deputy District Attorney Ryan Gould told Judge Joseph Brandolino that the wealthy socialite — accused of killing two young brothers while speeding in her car — asked for the card from a Fox News journalist Thursday during her trial against Van Nuys.
Shortly afterwards, the network aired a story saying it had received emailed material – including two videos – alleging that information that could prove her innocence had been withheld from the jury.
This was “a direct violation” of a judge’s order excluding certain evidence from Grossman’s six-week trial, Gould said, adding that “it was a deliberate attempt to influence the jury.”
Rebecca Grossman, 62, is charged with murder over the September 29, 2020 crash that killed Jacob Iskander, 8, and his brother Mark, 11. Grossman is seen leaving the court on Friday
Prosecutors have accused her of leaking confidential information about her case to a TV reporter and trying to influence the jury currently deciding her fate.
Grossman’s husband, Dr. Peter Grossman, was by her side every day during the trial, along with her daughter Alexis
Defense attorney John Hobson told the court he knew nothing about the leak, adding that just because a reporter had received an email, “that did not mean it came from Ms. Grossman.”
He pointed out that the jury had been warned at the start of the trial not to read or watch news reports about the case.
Mark and Jacob Iskander died in the horrific crash on September 29, 2020
Gould responded, “I don’t believe it was the (attorneys) who violated the protective order. I believe it was Mrs. Grossman.”
Judge Brandolino denied Gould’s request to revoke Grossman’s bail and have her taken into custody.
But the judge said he would investigate the event and warned Grossman: “I don’t want to hear anything like this again… you don’t want to end up in pre-trial detention.”
Despite the judge’s warning, Grossman stood up and blurted out, “Can I put it down…” before being subdued by her lawyers as her husband. Dr. Peter Grossman shouted ‘Rebecca’ to stop her outburst.
Grossman, 62, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the tragic deaths of eight-year-old Jacob and Mark Iskander, 11, at a marked crosswalk in September 2020.
She faces a maximum sentence of 34 years to life in prison if the jury of nine men and three women now deliberating convicts her.
Nancy Iskander was crossing the road with the brothers and her youngest son Zachary, 5, when they were hit. Nancy and her husband Karim leave the court on February 6
Grossman’s white Mercedes SUV is pictured shortly after the crash
Grossman blamed her former lover, ex-baseball star Scott Erickson, saying his car struck and killed the boys after they drank margaritas at lunch. They are pictured together at a 2020 fundraising event
While prosecutors accuse Grossman of running up and killing the Iskander boys, her defense team claims it was the black Mercedes SUV driven by her then-boyfriend, ex-professional baseball player Scott Erickson, 56 – with whom she previously dated had been drinking that evening. day of the crash – that was to blame.
He was charged with reckless driving and his case was resolved in February 2022, with a judge ordering him to make a public service announcement to high school students about the importance of safe driving.
She also faces two additional charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, plus one charge of collision resulting in death.
Grossman — who wore a long gray sweater over a brown jacket and black pants in the chilly air-conditioned courtroom on Friday — has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has a website proclaiming her innocence, titled The Truth Matters.
Her husband, a plastic surgeon and burn specialist, arrived at court as usual with his wife, who has been free on $2 million bail since her arrest more than three years ago. Their daughter Alexis, 19, was also in the courtroom.