Found Deceased CA - Blaze Bernstein, 19, Lake Forest, 2 Jan 2018 #8 *Arrest*

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Tuesday, April 9th:
*Trial set to begin (@ 9:30am PT) – CA – Blaze Bernstein (19) (Jan. 2, 2018, Lake Forest; found Jan. 9, 2018; he was stabbed 19 times in his neck; 14 times on the left, 5 on the right & 1 stab wound in his left knee) – *Samuel Lincoln Woodward (20/now 26) arrested (1/15/18) & charged (1/17/18) & arraigned (11/9/18) with 1 count of felony murder with a hate crime enhancement for killing someone because of their sexual orientation & sentencing enhancement-personal use of a knife. Plead not guilty (again on 11/9/18). $5M bail, bail revoked (11/9/18). In custody of the Theo Lacy jail.
Trial was set to begin on 7/15/22 with jury selection was vacated for competency evaluation. Found competent (10/21/22) to stand trial.
Trial began on 2/7/24 with jury selection & ended on 2/8/24.
Jury selection began on 2/21/24 declared a mistrial. (Due to outburst from Woodward. Woodward threw a cup of water at the judge).
Jury Selection began again on 3/5/24 & ended 4/4/24.
Trial set to begin on 4/9/24. Court DARK on Fridays.
Judge presiding. Prosecutor Todd Spitzer. Defense attorney Ken Morrison (from the Orange County Public Defender’s Office).
Court hearings from 2/2/18 thru 2/29/24 & Jury Selection Days 12 (3/6, 3/7, 3/13, 3/18, 3/19, 3/21, 3/25-3/29, 4/2/24) reference post #246 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ake-forest-2-jan-2018-8-arrest.618349/page-13
4/3/24 Wednesday, Jury Selection Day 13: No info available. Jury selection continues on Thursday, 4/4/24.
4/4/24 Thursday, July Selection Day 14: No info available. Jury selection is finished per article (post #250/page 13). Opening Statements begin on Tuesday, 4/9/24.
4/5/24 Friday, Motion Ex-Parte hearing held.
 
Wednesday, April 10th:
*Trial continues (Day 2) (@ 9:30am PT) – CA – Blaze Bernstein (19) (Jan. 2, 2018, Lake Forest; found Jan. 9, 2018; he was stabbed 19 times in his neck; 14 times on the left, 5 on the right & 1 stab wound in his left knee) – *Samuel Lincoln Woodward (20/now 27) arrested (1/15/18) & charged (1/17/18) & arraigned (11/9/18) with 1 count of felony murder with a hate crime enhancement for killing someone because of their sexual orientation & sentencing enhancement-personal use of a knife. Plead not guilty (again on 11/9/18). $5M bail, bail revoked (11/9/18). In custody of the Theo Lacy jail.
Trial began on 4/9/24. Court DARK on Fridays.
Judge Kimberly Menninger presiding. Prosecutor DATodd Spitzer & Senior Deputy DA Jennifer Walke; Defense attorney assistant public defender Kenneth Morrison (from the Orange County Public Defender’s Office).
Court hearings from 2/2/18 thru 2/29/24 & Jury Selection Days 1-14 (3/6 thru 4/4/24) reference post #261 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ake-forest-2-jan-2018-8-arrest.618349/page-14
4/9/24 Tuesday, Trial Day 1: Opening statements by Senior Dep. DA Jennifer Walker & defense attorney Kenneth Morrison.
Note: Woodward is expected to testify during his trial, his attorney told jurors. But the attorney added that Woodward’s mental condition has undergone “dramatic changes” since his arrest six years ago. No other info available.
Trial continues on Wednesday, 4/10/24.
For more info see post #269 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ake-forest-2-jan-2018-8-arrest.618349/page-14
 
Niner said:
another article I will use as reference in my notes. From all the articles I have read - there was just opening statements yesterday - as far as I can see.

www.ocregister.com

Samuel Woodward killed former classmate Blaze Bernstein, but it was not a hate crime, defense lawyer says

Six years after a missing persons search ended with the discovery of Bernstein’s body, Woodward’s murder trial has begun.
www.ocregister.com www.ocregister.com
Click to expand...
There's a paywall, so I couldn't read the article, only the headline and a brief glimpse of his picture. He looks like Charles Manson- but how can they claim it wasn't a hate crime??? He killed Blaze for everything he was- gay and Jewish.
 
LinasK said:
There's a paywall, so I couldn't read the article, only the headline and a brief glimpse of his picture. He looks like Charles Manson- but how can they claim it wasn't a hate crime??? He killed Blaze for everything he was- gay and Jewish.
Click to expand...

I had the same Charles Manson reaction. It’s not just the hair, his facial expression and structure is also similar. His hair though looks filthy and greasy.
What’s the strategy for this?
 
Thursday, April 11th:
*Trial continues (Day 3) (@ 9am PT) – CA – Blaze Bernstein (19) (Jan. 2, 2018, Lake Forest; found Jan. 9, 2018; he was stabbed 19 times in his neck; 14 times on the left, 5 on the right & 1 stab wound in his left knee) – *Samuel Lincoln Woodward (20/now 26) arrested (1/15/18) & charged (1/17/18) & arraigned (11/9/18) with 1 count of felony murder with a hate crime enhancement for killing someone because of their sexual orientation & sentencing enhancement-personal use of a knife. Plead not guilty (again on 11/9/18). $5M bail, bail revoked (11/9/18). In custody of the Theo Lacy jail.
Trial began on 4/9/24. Court DARK on Fridays.
Judge Kimberly K. Menninger presiding. Prosecutor DATodd Spitzer & Senior Deputy DA Jennifer Walke; Defense attorney assistant public defender Kenneth S. Morrison (from the Orange County Public Defender’s Office).
Court hearings from 2/2/18 thru 2/29/24 & Jury Selection Days 1-14 (3/6 thru 4/4/24) & Trial Day 1 (4/9/24) reference post #270 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ake-forest-2-jan-2018-8-arrest.618349/page-14
4/9/24 Tuesday, Trial Day 1: additional info: On Tuesday, the prosecution introduced new messages between Woodward & Bernstein, in which Woodward told Blaze he was still straight, but 'I might make an exception for you.'
4/10/24 Wednesday, Trial Day 2: Hearing evidential proceeding [Evidence Cod 402] heard. Opening statements continued for defense attorney Ken Morrison.
For more info see post #275 (article) here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...ake-forest-2-jan-2018-8-arrest.618349/page-14
Trial continues on Thursday, 4/11/24.
 
If any of you are interested, follow @thislouis on Twitter.
You can also get text message updates sent to your phone if you don't have an account by sending "ON thislouis" to 40404.

He's a reporter for The Forward and updating live what's happening inside the courtroom.
This is the most recent article he published: Blaze Bernstein’s cryptic final texts revealed in court as Woodward murder trial continues

It includes a lot of new details but he's posting what's happening play by play LIVE on Twitter.
 
Last edited:
whitelilac said:
I remember this case so well, like it was yesterday. It was so painful, senseless and heartbreaking. Still hurts my heart.
I will follow the trial.
Justice for Blaze, for his parents....though I wish it had never happened in the first place.
Click to expand...
I feel the same. I hate that it's taking this long for justice but hopefully his family will be able to see the beast that killed Blaze brought to justice. I hope he will never see the light of day outside of prison walls again!
 
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