Overview
- During the trial, a recorded phone call between Woodward and Bernstein's parents was played, where Woodward claimed he was searching for Bernstein.
- Blaze Bernstein, a 19-year-old University of Pennsylvania student, was allegedly murdered by Samuel Woodward, a former classmate, in 2018.
- The trial focuses on Woodward's alleged hate crime motivations, linked to Bernstein's sexual orientation and Jewish identity.
- Emotional testimonies from Bernstein's parents and details of their son's last communications were central to the trial's proceedings.
- Woodward's defense acknowledges the killing but denies premeditation and hate-based motives.