SANTA ANA, Calif. — A Southern California man was found guilty of first-degree murder in connection with the 2018 death of a gay former high school peer on Wednesday. The jury also determined the act was a hate crime, enhancing the gravity of the sentence Samuel Woodward may face.
The victim, 19-year-old Blaze Bernstein, was discovered in a shallow grave in Borrego Park of Lake Forest, having suffered multiple stab wounds to his face and neck. Following the announcement, the courtroom erupted in cheers at the declaration of the hate crime, prompting the judge to call for order.
“This verdict ensures that the individual responsible for the brutal murder of our son is no longer a threat to society,” Blaze Bernstein’s mother, Jeanne Pepper Bernstein, expressed her relief during a post-verdict press conference.
Woodward, showing no visible response to the verdict, sat with his head down, his long hair obscuring his face. The jury took just one day of deliberations to reach their decision.
During the trial, prosecutors portrayed Woodward as a predator who harbored animosity towards homosexuals and Jews, having affiliated himself with groups that supported such ideologies. They argued that Woodward had a history of baiting gay men online, only to sever contact abruptly.
“The defendant brutally took Blaze Bernstein’s life purely because of his sexual orientation,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker asserted in court.
The charges against Woodward include enhancements for utilizing a deadly weapon in a hate crime, which may see him face a life sentence without the possibility of parole. A sentencing date, however, is yet to be scheduled.
Countering the prosecution, Woodward’s defense team described their client as a conflicted individual, struggling with his own sexual identity, who did not premeditate Bernstein’s murder. They highlighted Woodward’s “mortal terror” during a park meeting on the night of the incident, panicked over Bernstein’s alleged sexual advances.
Furthermore, the defense suggested that Woodward’s undiagnosed autism and susceptibility to extremism contributed to his actions. They pointed to his obsessive behaviors and vulnerabilities as factors exploited by hateful groups.
The courtroom heard from various witnesses including family members, friends, and law enforcement officials. Woodward himself offered a slow and sometimes paused testimony, highlighting a moment of extreme anger leading to the fatal altercation.
Woodward had acknowledged meeting Bernstein after connecting on a dating app while Bernstein was home from the University of Pennsylvania during winter break. According to Woodward’s testimony, the physical encounter escalated after he perceived a threat from Bernstein’s use of a cell phone during their interaction.
As the community and the nation reflect on this case, the conviction not only underscores the legal repercussions of hate crimes but also highlights ongoing issues of intolerance and violence against the LGBTQ community. The final sentencing will mark the closure of a legal battle that has captivated and horrified many, standing as a stern reminder of the work still needed to foster inclusivity and understanding.