Blaze Bernstein Murder: Accused Killer Get New Lawyer

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — It was out with one lawyer and in with another on Monday after the 21-year-old Samuel Lincoln Woodward's attorney Ed Munoz stepped away from the job.

Woodward, a Newport Beach resident, was accused of killing his former high school classmate, Blaze Bernstein, when he was home over Christmas Break earlier this year, for the reason that Bernstein was gay, the Orange County District Attorney's office has alleged.

On Monday, Woodward's arraignment was rescheduled after his attorney left, with Robert F. Kohler of the Public Defender's Office who will be representing Woodward at his next court appearance in November, Munoz said.

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OCSD photo: Samuel Lincoln Woodward