SANTA ANA, Calif. — A Southern California man was found guilty of first-degree murder on Wednesday, with jurors additionally convicting him of committing a hate crime in the fatal stabbing of a homosexual former classmate in 2018. Samuel Woodward, of Orange County, was convicted for the murder of 19-year-old Blaze Bernstein, whose body was discovered in a shallow grave in Borrego Park, Lake Forest, after being stabbed multiple times in the face and neck.
The courtroom outburst of audible cheers marked the jury’s hate crime decision before the judge called for order to proceed with the verdict announcement. Following the verdict, the Bernstein family expressed their relief during a press conference. “This despicable human who murdered our son will no longer be a threat to the public,” Jeanne Pepper Bernstein, Blaze’s mother, stated.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors argued that Woodward, who had ties to an anti-gay and anti-Semitic group, specifically targeted gay men, engaging them online before severing communication. The charges against Woodward carried additional sentencing enhancements due to the hate crime classification and his use of a deadly weapon. He faces life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, though a sentencing date has yet to be announced.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker emphasized to jurors, “The defendant killed Blaze Bernstein because he was gay.” This pointed accusation highlighted the alleged motive behind Bernstein’s tragic death.
The defense presented a different narrative, suggesting that Woodward did not harbor hatred towards Bernstein. They claimed Woodward was grappling with his own sexuality and killed Bernstein in a sudden fit of rage. Woodward’s attorney also introduced the topic of his client’s undiagnosed autism and susceptibility to extremist groups looking for vulnerable recruits seeking acceptance.
During the trial, it was revealed that Woodward and Bernstein had connected through a dating app. Bernstein, at the time a student at the University of Pennsylvania, was home for winter break when the two decided to meet. The encounter tragically culminated in Woodward’s violent reaction to Bernstein’s advances in the park – a moment Woodward described in court as one of intense fear and unprecedented anger, allegedly precipitated by Bernstein using his cellphone in a manner that made Woodward feel threatened.
Woodward’s confession and his testimonial delays characterized by prolonged pauses added an intense layer to the courtroom proceedings, reflecting the complex and fraught nature of the case which drew testimony from multiple friends, relatives, and authorities engaged in the investigation.
As Woodward awaits sentencing, the case remains a significant instance of the intersection between hate crime legislation and high-profile criminal acts, highlighting societal challenges around issues of sexuality, mental health, and extremism. The community and nation now watch closely as the judicial process moves into the sentencing phase, setting a precedent for how hate crimes continue to be adjudicated amidst evolving cultural and legal landscapes.