Fri Nov 15 23:10:00 UTC 2024: ## Hate Crime Murderer Sentenced to Life in Prison
**SANTA ANA, CA** – Samuel Lincoln Woodward, 27, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Friday for the hate crime murder of Blaze Bernstein, 19. Woodward was convicted in July for the January 3, 2018, stabbing death of Bernstein, a former classmate at the Orange County School of the Arts.
The sentencing followed a trial where the prosecution successfully argued a hate crime enhancement, citing Bernstein’s sexual orientation as the motive. Evidence presented included Woodward’s association with the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division, showcasing a pattern of bigotry. While the defense acknowledged Woodward’s struggles with autism and his involvement with the group, arguing it influenced his actions, the jury found him guilty.
Woodward and Bernstein reconnected after years apart, meeting in Borrego Park on January 2, 2018. According to Woodward’s testimony, a disagreement ensued, escalating to a violent altercation resulting in Bernstein’s death. Woodward claimed he acted out of fear of his family discovering his encounter with Bernstein.
The prosecution countered this, arguing the killing was a premeditated act intended to gain favor with the Atomwaffen Division. They highlighted evidence such as a blood-stained sweater and Woodward’s attempts to cover up the crime. The defense maintained that the charges were overstated, emphasizing Woodward’s autism as a mitigating factor. However, the court ultimately ruled against this defense. Bernstein’s body was discovered on January 9, 2018, after a frantic search by his family.
First Piper 