Neo-Nazi Convicted of Hate-Crime Murder After Meeting Gay Classmate Online

Neo-Nazi Convicted of Hate-Crime Murder After Meeting Gay Classmate Online
Image By: New York Post

A neo-Nazi who viciously stabbed a gay student, 19, in the hopes of hooking up, has been found guilty of murder and hate crime charges.

Following a single day of deliberation, a California jury returned a conviction against Samuel Woodward on Wednesday. In 2018, Woodward was found guilty of killing Blaze Bernstein in the first degree. He could potentially get a life sentence without the possibility of release.

Bernstein sat impassive during the reading, his face obscured from cameras by his long hair, while many in the gallery cheered as the verdict was announced.

In 2018, a Jewish adolescent named Bernstein was discovered in a California park with 20 stab wounds. Although the defense did not refute the killing, it said it was not motivated by hatred.

After meeting Bernstein on Tinder, Woodward—who was raised in a traditional, devout family—agreed to meet.

He essentially responded, “At that point, he pretty much said, ‘Don’t worry, I get it, completely understand,'” Woodward had testified earlier in the trial. He acknowledged that he initiated contact.

“I’m pretty sure I said we should hang out at some point … and he said he was actually free (that) night, right now,” the 26-year-old stated. “He said something else that was basically an offer to if I wanted to come over. At that point, I said ‘Alright, cool.'”

Both of them attended Orange County School of the Arts. Bernstein had briefly studied pre-medicine at the University of Pennsylvania prior to that. Woodward left college early and relocated to Texas. He met with the Atomwaffen Division, a Neo-Nazi extremist group, there before returning to his parents’ house in California.

At certain points in his life, Woodward admitted in his testimony, he felt alone and that he spoke to most people solely through internet chats.

Woodward told the Orange County Register, “I had been looking for people for a long time to spend time with or talk to.”

According to the site, screenshots of Woodward and Bernstein’s online chats were displayed during the trial, illustrating how the two had been acquainted several months before to Bernstein’s passing.

Blaze, then 19 years old, was discovered dead in the park where they went after Woodward picked him up from home, the witness told the court.

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The defense contended that Woodward struggled in relationships and struggled to understand his own sexuality because of a long-undiagnosed autistic spectrum disease, partly because of his upbringing in a setting where his father publicly condemned homosexuality.

Additionally, Woodward’s counsel contended that the story that has been presented about his client is untrue.

At a pre-trial hearing, defense attorney Ken Morrison informed the judge, “There is this narrative that’s been pushed: Nazi kills gay Jew. From the defense perspective, that’s inaccurate,” according to the Los Angeles Times.

Due to concerns about Woodward’s mental health, the case did not proceed to trial for years until late in 2022, when it was determined that he was able to stand trial. Three days into Woodward’s testimony, the trial has been going on for 28 days since it began in late April.

After Bernstein’s family checked through his social media and discovered he reportedly had contact with Woodward there, authorities linked Woodward to the crime.

Authorities investigating Woodward’s family home allegedly discovered a black Atomwaffen mask with bloodstains on it and a folding knife with a bloodied blade in his room.

Reference

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With more than two years of expertise in news and analysis, Eileen Stewart is a seasoned reporter. Eileen is a respected voice in this field, well-known for her sharp reporting and insightful analysis. Her writing covers a wide range of subjects, from politics to culture and more.