Six years after the death of University of Pennsylvania student Blaze Bernstein, opening statements are set to begin in the murder trial of Samuel Woodward. Woodward, who is now 26, has pleaded not guilty to charges of stabbing Bernstein to death. The two young men had attended the same high school in Orange County, California, with Bernstein home visiting his family on winter break when the incident occurred. DNA evidence linked Woodward to the killing, and his cellphone was found to contain anti-gay, antisemitic, and hate group materials.
Bernstein went missing after going out with Woodward to a park in Lake Forest, California, in January 2018. His body was later found buried in a shallow grave at the park. Prosecutors allege that Woodward picked Bernstein up from his parents’ home after connecting with him on Snapchat and stabbed him nearly twenty times in the face and neck. Woodward’s room at his parents’ home was searched, and a folding knife with a bloodied blade was found. Woodward was arrested two days later and has been charged with murder with a hate crime enhancement.
In the years leading up to the trial, questions arose about Woodward’s mental state, and he underwent multiple changes of defense attorneys. Woodward was ultimately deemed competent to stand trial in late 2022. One of his previous lawyers stated that Woodward had Asperger’s syndrome and struggled with his own sexuality. However, his current attorney urged the public to reserve judgment until all evidence has been presented in court and a jury has had the chance to evaluate it.
Woodward had sought to become a member of the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division, which promoted white supremacy, according to prosecutors. He had made journal entries, including one titled “diary of hate,” where he described threats he claimed to have made to gay people online. The Orange County district attorney’s office declined to comment ahead of trial, and Woodward’s defense attorney cautioned against forming opinions based on the narrative that has been presented in the media over the last six years. The case has garnered significant attention due to its nature as a hate crime.
The trial has been highly anticipated, with the prosecution alleging that Woodward’s actions were motivated by hate towards Bernstein’s identity as a gay, Jewish college student. Bernstein’s parents found his personal belongings in his bedroom shortly after he went missing, prompting a search that led to the discovery of his body. The trial is set to begin with opening statements scheduled for the coming days, where both the prosecution and defense will present their cases. The case has been a long and difficult road for Bernstein’s family and loved ones, as they seek justice for their son’s tragic and untimely death.
