Grossman Headed To Lengthy Trial Over Fatal Westlake Village Crash

AGOURA HILLS, CA — The trial of Rebecca Grossman, charged with fatally striking two boys with her car and fleeing the scene in 2020, is set to begin on July 5 with jury selection.

The start date was set during a pretrial conference Monday at the Van Nuys Courthouse West, according to Deputy District Attorney Ryan Gould. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Joseph Brandolino also ordered that prosecutors and Grossman’s attorneys turn over all discovery evidence by April 3, Gould said. The next pretrial hearing is set for April 17.

Brandolino said Grossman’s legal team can bring in up to seven expert witnesses. He estimated the trial will run for six weeks, according to the Ventura County Star.

"I'm hoping it'll be less than that," Brandolino said, according to the Ventura County Star.

Grossman was charged in 2020 with “fatally running over two young boys then fleeing the scene” in Westlake Village, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. Grossman on Sept. 29, 2020 was driving at “excessive speeds” when she hit Mark, 11, and Jacob, 8, Iskander, who were crossing the street in a marked crosswalk, according to the district attorney’s office. She continued driving, only stopping when her car engine cut off, the office claimed.

Grossman was charged with two felony counts each of murder and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one felony count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death — charges that come with a sentence of 34 years to life in prison.

Grossman previously attempted to have her murder charges dropped, according to the Acorn, and contested blood-alcohol evidence. Both efforts came up short.

“No one has ever disputed that her car hit the boys,” Grossman’s attorney Tony Buzbee told Patch in January.

Even still, Grossman was overcharged, Buzbee claimed. Culpability is more appropriately placed on the city of Westlake Village, Buzbee said, claiming the site of the crash was known to be dangerous.