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California man charged with killing gay college student takes the stand

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A California man charged with killing a gay University of Pennsylvania student in an alleged hate crime six years ago testified Tuesday about how the two men connected on social media and went to a park. It was the last time the victim was seen.

Samuel Woodward, 26, took the stand in his trial in an Orange County courtroom with long hair partly covering his face. His lawyer repeatedly asked him to push it aside so jurors could see him.

In response to questioning, Woodward told the court there were times in his life where he felt he didn't have friends and that virtually the only communication he had with other people was online. He acknowledged he matched with former high school classmate Blaze Bernstein on a dating app, and six months later, when the two reconnected, he told Bernstein it was awkward to be chatting since he came from a “conservative, Catholic family.”

“I had been looking for people for a long time to spend time with or talk to,” Woodward said during his third day testifying in his monthslong trial.

Woodward is charged with murder with an enhancement for a hate crime in the death of Bernstein, a 19-year-old gay Jewish college sophomore who was home visiting family in Southern California on winter break when he disappeared in 2018. Bernstein's body was found days later buried in a shallow grave in a nearby park.

The two men had connected online in the months before the attack, according to screenshots of their conversations shown during the trial.

Prosecutors said Woodward had joined the violent, anti-gay, antisemitic group known as Atomwaffen Division and repeatedly targeted gay men online by reaching out to them and then abruptly breaking off contact while keeping a hateful, profanity-laced journal of his actions. Prosecutors also said that Woodward showed an interest in moving from words to violent actions and that they found hate group materials among his belongings.

Defense attorney Ken Morrison didn't dispute that his client carried out the fatal attack, but said Woodward didn't plan to kill anyone and didn't hate Bernstein.

He said Woodward faced challenges in his personal relationships due to a long-undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder and was confused about his own sexuality after growing up in a politically conservative and devout Catholic family where his father openly criticized homosexuality.

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by Anonymousreply 29November 17, 2024 1:20 PM

Didn't this guy used to be good looking?

He looks like SHIT now.

That's a rough looking 26.

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by Anonymousreply 1June 20, 2024 9:42 PM

I remember this. That poor little cute twink.

by Anonymousreply 2June 20, 2024 9:44 PM

Woodward looks like he aged 20 years since his arrest.

I still think that it was a case of gay panic.

Woodward was probably on the downlow.

He let Bernstein suck him off, and then killed him.

That's my theory.

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by Anonymousreply 3June 20, 2024 9:46 PM

Neither were lookers.

by Anonymousreply 4June 20, 2024 9:47 PM

When did he turn into Charles Manson?

by Anonymousreply 5June 20, 2024 9:47 PM

I disagree, R4.

I think they were both decent looking.

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by Anonymousreply 6June 20, 2024 9:50 PM

I simply adored him on the Addams Family!

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by Anonymousreply 7June 20, 2024 9:59 PM

What a piece of Nazi shit. Bernstein was fairly cute - and smart.

by Anonymousreply 8June 20, 2024 10:00 PM

So it's Woodward and Bernstein?

by Anonymousreply 9June 20, 2024 10:04 PM

Dat's da suck job!

by Anonymousreply 10June 20, 2024 10:07 PM

[quote]He said Woodward faced challenges in his personal relationships due to a long-undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder

Oh well. No excuse.

by Anonymousreply 11June 20, 2024 10:09 PM

Fry the fucker.

by Anonymousreply 12June 20, 2024 10:12 PM

[quote] Woodward told the court there were times in his life where he felt he didn't have friends and that virtually the only communication he had with other people was online. He acknowledged he matched with former high school classmate Blaze Bernstein on a dating app

A) They met on a dating app, so clearly he was looking to hook up.

B) He felt he had no friends, then he reconnects with an old classmate who could possibly be friends with him, and then he KILLS him??

That makes no sense.

by Anonymousreply 13June 20, 2024 10:14 PM

he looks nutz

by Anonymousreply 14June 20, 2024 10:53 PM

Gay panic + autism = probation

by Anonymousreply 15June 20, 2024 10:59 PM

Oh yeah, that appearance is definitely going to win over the jury. So smart of his counsel to put him on the stand!

by Anonymousreply 16June 20, 2024 11:39 PM

Bernstein was lovely. This piece of shit Woodward was OK, now looks like the piece of shit he is. Indoctrinated by neo Nazi cuntery, of which there is more and more these days

by Anonymousreply 17June 20, 2024 11:48 PM

Guilty!

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by Anonymousreply 18July 4, 2024 4:11 AM

He was also found guilty of committing a hate crime specifically

by Anonymousreply 19July 4, 2024 4:52 AM

Yeah, fry the POS now that he has been found guilty.

by Anonymousreply 20July 4, 2024 5:27 AM

That hair is the real crime. After that whole murder thing, of course.

by Anonymousreply 21July 4, 2024 5:53 AM

“ Woodward and Bernstein” sound like a pair that could make Broadway tunes, or fine handcrafted wood furniture from Vermont.

by Anonymousreply 22July 4, 2024 2:18 PM

[quote]Blaze Bernstein.

Sounds like a Jewish stripper.

by Anonymousreply 23July 4, 2024 2:19 PM

[quote]“ Woodward and Bernstein” sound like a pair that could make Broadway tunes, or fine handcrafted wood furniture from Vermont.

Or journalists exposing a President's crime.

by Anonymousreply 24July 4, 2024 2:20 PM

He’s no Bob Redford, that’s for sure

by Anonymousreply 25July 4, 2024 2:24 PM

Atomwaffen celebrated the murder

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by Anonymousreply 26July 5, 2024 5:12 PM

Sentenced to LIFE in prison!

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by Anonymousreply 27November 17, 2024 10:30 AM

He looks like such a freak.

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by Anonymousreply 28November 17, 2024 10:31 AM

Hey Biden how about have the feds arrest all these psycho militia terrorists, we know who they all are. DO SOMETHING

by Anonymousreply 29November 17, 2024 1:20 PM
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