pretend photographsA California man convicted of murdering a homosexual Jewish school pupil in a hate crime has been sentenced to life in jail with out the opportunity of parole.
Samuel Woodward, 27, was convicted in July within the 2018 demise of Blaze Bernstein, 19, whom Woodward stabbed greater than 28 instances within the face and neck earlier than burying her physique.
After a week-long search, police discovered Bernstein's physique in a park in Lake Forest, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles.
Through the trial, prosecutors mentioned Woodward was affiliated with a neo-Nazi extremist group, the Atomwaffen Division, and accused him of hate-attacking homosexual males on-line.
The sentencing listening to was delayed for a number of hours, partially as a result of Woodward refused to depart his cell.
At one level, he additionally stormed out of the courtroom throughout sufferer impression statements.
“No mom ought to should bury her son… my coronary heart was so damaged and but I used to be unable to just accept the fact that he was not a part of our world,” the sufferer's mom, Jeanne, advised the courtroom. Pepper.
“I’ll always remember listening to for the primary time that Blaze had been stabbed 28 instances,” he added. “It's the worst and most painful factor that has ever occurred to me to know that he died in such a horrible, horrible method.”
Ken Morrison, his protection lawyer, beforehand mentioned he would attraction a responsible verdict.
Woodward's legal professionals had argued that he had a long-undiagnosed autism spectrum dysfunction that challenged Woodward's private relationships.
The trial was delayed for years after questions had been raised about Woodward's psychological well being, however in late 2022 he was deemed competent to face trial.
He in the end spent 5 days testifying throughout the trial, typically taking lengthy durations of time earlier than answering easy questions.
oc county sheriffIn January 2018, Bernstein and Woodward met for an evening out over Snapchat, Woodward later advised police.
He turned enraged after Bernstein kissed him. Woodward then repeatedly stabbed Bernstein whereas preventing over a mobile phone that Woodward believed Bernstein used to him.
Bernstein's dad and mom had been alerted after he missed a dentist appointment the following day and tried to contact him a number of instances.
They checked their social media and found that Bernstein and Woodward had been speaking by way of Snapchat.
Per week later, police discovered Bernstein's physique with stab wounds in a park close to Bernstein's household dwelling.
Woodward was arrested after DNA belonging to Bernstein was present in his rental automotive.
Whereas looking out Woodward's dwelling, police discovered a black Atomwaffen masks, a folding knife with traces of blood on it, and a diary full of hateful, anti-gay and anti-Semitic materials, the Related Press reported.
Woodward's protection legal professional mentioned he was confused about his sexuality, having grown up in a Catholic dwelling the place homosexuality was brazenly criticized.
Within the months earlier than the assault, Woodward and Bernstein linked by means of a courting app.
Once they met, Bernstein was visiting household in Southern California throughout a winter break from the College of Pennsylvania.
The 2 had beforehand attended the identical Orange County highschool.