In a Van Nuys courtroom, Dr. Peter Grossman, a renowned plastic surgeon, testified this week in the murder trial of his wife, Rebecca Grossman, providing his account of the events following a tragic crash that claimed the lives of two young boys in Westlake Village. Dr. Peter Grossman recounted learning about the fatal incident from his teenage daughter on the night of September 29, 2020, when Mark and Jacob Iskander were struck and killed.
Prosecutors allege that Rebecca Grossman was driving her Mercedes SUV at speeds up to 81 mph moments before hitting 11-year-old Mark and 8-year-old Jacob Iskander as they were crossing Triunfo Canyon Road in a crosswalk with their mother and younger brother. The posted speed limit on the road was 45 mph. Rebecca Grossman, 60, of Hidden Hills, is facing severe charges, including two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of vehicular manslaughter, and hit-and-run driving. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and her defense team has argued that another vehicle was responsible for initially hitting the boys.
The defense commenced their case presentation on Tuesday, calling Dr. Peter Grossman as their first witness. Dr. Peter Grossman testified that he picked up his wife from a women’s detention center late on the night of the crash. Describing her emotional state, Dr. Grossman stated, “My wife was almost inconsolable.”
Prior to the crash, Rebecca Grossman had been driving from a restaurant where she had drinks with Scott Erickson, a former professional baseball player and her then-boyfriend. They were planning to meet at Grossman’s residence near Westlake Lake to watch a presidential debate. Witness testimony previously established that they departed separately, with Grossman in her white Mercedes SUV and Erickson in his black Mercedes SUV.
The defense has asserted that Erickson’s black SUV was the first vehicle to strike the children. Additionally, her attorneys have claimed that the Iskander boys were outside of the designated crosswalk when the incident occurred. However, several witnesses present at the scene that night contradicted this claim, affirming that the Iskander family was within the crosswalk. Data retrieved from Rebecca Grossman’s SUV indicated her speed was 73 mph at the time of the crash.
In contrast to this data, the defense presented expert testimony this week analyzing surveillance camera footage from the area. This expert claimed the video analysis showed Grossman’s speed to be approximately 52 mph a few hundred feet past the crosswalk. It was noted that the surveillance video was recorded on a cellphone by officers, which experts have suggested can compromise the accuracy of speed analysis.
During cross-examination, Deputy District Attorney Jamie Castro questioned Dr. Peter Grossman about his familiarity with his wife’s driving habits. When asked if he was aware of instances where his wife exceeded speed limits, Dr. Grossman stated he had no specific recollection of such events.
Earlier in the trial, a California Highway Patrol officer testified about issuing Rebecca Grossman a speeding ticket in 2013 for driving 92 mph on Highway 101 in Agoura Hills, where the speed limit was 65 mph. The judge had indicated that if Dr. Peter Grossman testified about his wife’s driving, the prosecution could introduce evidence of other speeding infractions. The prosecution mentioned three prior speeding tickets; however, as the defense did not question Dr. Grossman about his wife’s driving habits, the jury was not informed of these past citations.
Dr. Peter Grossman also provided insight into his relationship with Rebecca Grossman. He testified that while they married in 2000, by 2020, they had decided to date other people. Despite this, they continued to co-parent and had not formally separated. In addition to their family home in Hidden Hills, they had purchased a house near Westlake Lake, which Dr. Grossman described as a fixer-upper project.
Rebecca Grossman remains out of custody on bail. The trial is scheduled to resume on Thursday. Dr. Peter Grossman’s testimony is a key part of the ongoing trial, as the court seeks to determine the facts surrounding this devastating incident and establish accountability.
