Rebecca Grossman’s teenage daughter wept as she left court following her mom’s sentencing of 15 years to life for the murder of two young brothers she hit with her car.
Alexis Grossman, 19, sobbed as she made her way out of Los Angeles Superior Courthouse on Monday.
She has been present throughout her mom’s trial over the hit-and-run killings of Mark, 11, and Jacob Iskander, eight.
Grossman fatally struck the siblings while speeding behind a car driven by her then-lover Scott Erickson, a former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, before fleeing the scene.
Alexis was in the packed courthouse to hear her sentence being handed down as Judge Joseph Brandolino condemned her mom’s ‘incredibly selfish behavior’.
Rebecca Grossman’s teenage daughter wept as she left court following her mom’s sentencing of 15 years to life for the murder of two young brothers she hit with her car
Alexis Grossman, 19, sobbed as she made her way out of Los Angeles Superior Courthouse on Monday
The teen left the proceedings hand in hand with her brother Nick, keeping her gaze to the floor.
The siblings trailed their father Dr Peter Grossman, who has also stuck by his wife during the trial.
Sporting a pair of black pants and a loose black shirt, a devastated Alexis shed tears as they exited the emotional hearing.
Just before the judge handed down the sentence, Grossman addressed the Iskander family directly and was barely coherent because she was talking so loudly and weeping.
The boys’ mother, Nancy, got up and was about to leave the court when Grossman begged her to stay, saying she had been wanting to speak to her.
She begged her: ‘Please don’t leave. I’ve waited almost four years to reach out to you.’
Nancy sat back in her seat and put her head down in front of her as Grossman continued to speak directly to the grieving mother.
Grossman continued: ‘All l’ve ever wanted to do is to tell you how sorry I am. And I did write. I don’t know if the prosecution ever gave them to you. … They said I would be tampering with witnesses if I reached out to you. … I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to because I was threatened by the prosecutor.
The teen left the proceedings hand in hand with her brother Nick, keeping her gaze to the floor
The siblings trailed their father Dr Peter Grossman, who has also stuck by his wife during the trial
The Iskander boys, Mark and Jacob, 11 and 8, died at the scene of the accident after Grossman’s Mercedes hit them at high speed
‘I just wanted to be a human being. When I couldn’t be a human being and talk to you parent to parent, mother to mother… I wanted to leave this world because I didn’t want to be here anymore and you have to believe me. And I believe God is in this room right now, and I believe He knows the truth.
‘He knows that if I had seen anyone, I would’ve thrown myself to the brick wall. I wanted God to take my life. I don’t know why God didn’t take my life.
‘I wish He would take my life. And if I could give my life right now and say to God, ‘Could you just please bring Mark and Jacob back,’ I would tell God to take my life. I am so, so sorry!’
Struggling to catch her breath, Grossman continued and said she did not flee the scene and instead stayed by her car for 20 minutes and was in a ‘state of denial.
‘I just had a break with reality and everything was moving in slow motion. My pain is nothing compared to your pain. Not even a fraction. That’s why I wish there was something I could do.’
After she spoke, Grossman put her head down on the table and continued to heave and sob loudly.
Karim Iskander listened to Grossman, but did not look at her directly. He stroked his wife’s back as she continued to quietly sob into her hands.
The sentencing came after months of moving testimony, including from Jacob’s best friend Bodie Wallace, who told the court that the song ‘10,000 reasons’ upsets him now as he thinks of the many reasons why Grossman never apologized right away., the LA Times reports.
Upon hearing his remarks, Grossman lost control again and doubled over with sobs in her chair.
Citing a lack of remorse for her actions, prosecutors had asked for the maximum penalty of two 15 years to life sentences to run consecutively – one for each young boy.
Just before the judge handed down the sentence, Grossman addressed the Iskander family directly and was barely coherent because she was talking so loudly and weeping
Mark and Nancy Iskander leave court after Grossman’s sentencing on Monday
Erickson played with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2005 for a year, then ended his career with the New York Yankees in 2006
However prosecutors noted she could be eligible for parole in six to seven years if she gains credit for good behavior.
Grossman’s defense attorney, Samuel Josephs, asked the judge to consider leniency, arguing that the charges are in the ‘lowest end’ of the malice cases.
‘This was an absolutely tragic accident,’ Josephs said. ‘What Mrs. Grossman did at the scene is consistent with someone in complete shock.’
Josephs also added it was actually the prosecution who told his client not to contact the family, and that the prosecution was now trying to ‘weaponize’ this.
He said the prosecution and media have unfairly painted Grossman as a socialite and highlighted her work in the community and with female burns’ victims.
Her son Nick also pleaded with the court for clemency, telling the judge, ‘My mother is not the bad person the media has painted.
‘Nothing compares to what the Iskanders are going through, but ever since the accident, it’s just felt like the world hates my mom and everyone is against our family.’
