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Attorney for Samuel Woodward acknowledges client’s involvement in death of gay Jewish teen, disputes hate crime classification
Samuel Woodward’s attorney admits his client killed a gay Jewish teen but denies it was a hate crime, emphasizing that Woodward was not driven by bigotry or premeditation. In his opening statement at Woodward’s murder trial, Assistant Public Defender Ken Morrison acknowledged that his client was responsible for the death of 19-year-old Blaze Bernstein, who was both Jewish and gay. Despite Woodward’s association with Atomwaffen Division, a hate group, Morrison insisted that the killing was not motivated by hate.
Woodward, 26, is facing a charge of first-degree murder with a hate crime enhancement for Bernstein’s death. If convicted as charged, he could face life in prison. Bernstein, a student at the University of Pennsylvania, was home for the holidays in Lake Forest when he disappeared on Jan. 2, 2018. A week later, his body was found in a park. Woodward and Bernstein had attended the same school together.
“What happened that night, plain and simple, was not a hate crime,” Morrison told jurors in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana. Morrison emphasized that Bernstein’s sexual orientation did not play a role in his killing. He stated that Bernstein was not killed because of who he was but because of what he did to Woodward after they met up.
Morrison portrayed Woodward as a socially awkward young man who struggled with undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder and loneliness. He explained that Woodward’s parents wanted him to appear normal and fit, leading to unresolved mental health issues. Raised in an unaccepting household with views against homosexuality, Woodward found solace in the Atomwaffen Division, searching for acceptance and a sense of purpose.
Disputing the prosecution’s narrative of a “Nazi kills gay Jew” scenario, Morrison argued that Woodward’s actions were not in service of the hate group’s ideology. Assistant Dist. Atty. Jennifer Walker, on the other hand, presented evidence suggesting Woodward’s deep involvement in the Atomwaffen Division and his discriminatory behavior towards the LGBTQ community prior to the killing.
Woodward’s diary entries and social media interactions painted a troubling picture of his attitudes towards gay individuals, leading up to the tragic events of Bernstein’s murder. Walker highlighted Woodward’s actions and statements, indicating a potential bias against Bernstein’s sexual orientation.
The trial is ongoing, with Morrison indicating that Woodward may testify in his own defense. The case has garnered significant attention due to the complex issues of hate crimes, mental health, and social acceptance. The trial is expected to continue until the end of June as the court seeks to uncover the truth behind Bernstein’s tragic death.
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Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.
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