Trial Set for Man Charged with Hate Crime Murder of UPenn Student Blaze Bernstein

After more than six years, the trial for the murder of Blaze Bernstein, a 19-year-old gay, Jewish college sophomore, is set to begin. Samuel Woodward, the now-26-year-old man from Newport Beach, California, is charged with stabbing Bernstein to death and is expected to stand trial with opening statements scheduled for Tuesday.

The Tragic Disappearance and Murder

Bernstein went missing in January 2018 after going to a park in Lake Forest, California, with Woodward. His parents discovered his belongings in his bedroom the next day, and later his body was found buried at the park in a shallow grave. It was revealed that Woodward, who had picked Bernstein up from his parents' home after connecting with him on Snapchat, had stabbed him nearly 20 times in the face and neck. DNA evidence linked Woodward to the killing, and his cellphone contained materials associated with hate groups and anti-gay sentiments.

Allegations of Hate Group Association

Woodward was reported to have attempted to join the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division, known for espousing white supremacy, a year prior to the murder. Additionally, journal entries found in Woodward's room described threats made to gay people online. A bloodied folding knife was discovered in Woodward's room at his parents' home, leading to his subsequent arrest.

Legal Proceedings

Woodward has pleaded not guilty to the murder, with an enhancement for a hate crime. The case faced delays due to questions regarding Woodward's mental state and changes in his defense attorneys. Nevertheless, he was deemed competent to stand trial in late 2022.

Challenges and Caution

Woodward's previous lawyer mentioned that his client has Asperger's syndrome, a condition that typically affects social interactions, and also struggled with his own sexuality. The attorney urged the public to refrain from making premature judgments about the case, emphasizing the importance of respecting the judicial process and awaiting the jury's evaluation of the evidence.

Families' Grief

Bernstein's mother, Jeanne Bernstein, expressed the profound difficulty of coping with her son's death, highlighting the crushing impact it has had on their family. She conveyed the immense pain of contemplating a future without Blaze.