Samuel Woodward Convicted of Hate Crime Murder in Blaze Bernstein Case

Orange County jury finds Woodward guilty of first-degree murder with hate crime enhancement for 2018 killing of gay classmate.

Woodward, a member of the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division, was found guilty after a nearly three-month trial.
Bernstein, a 19-year-old gay and Jewish pre-med student, was killed in a park near his home.
Prosecutors argued that the murder was premeditated and motivated by anti-gay hatred.
The defense claimed Woodward acted in a panic after Bernstein allegedly tried to 'out' him.
Woodward faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole, with sentencing scheduled for October 25.