Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 18 January 2018
Lawyers: Bike path attack defendant willing to plead guilty

By LARRY NEUMEISTER The lawyers told U.S. District son, New Jersey, resident bring immediate closure to If the government seeks
Associated Press Judge Vernon S. Broder- was inspired by the Islam- the case without the need death, the lawyers said a
NEW YORK (AP) — A man ick that the families of vic- ic State group when he for the public and victims trial should occur no earlier
charged with killing eight tims and the public can mowed people down in to repeatedly relive the than September 2019 be-
people in a Halloween at- be spared a drawn-out le- rented truck. He has plead- terrible events of Oct. 31, cause of the large volume
tack on a New York City gal process if U.S. Attorney ed not guilty and remains 2017,” the lawyer told the of evidence and the need
bike path is willing to plead General Jeff Sessions de- held without bail. Manhattan jurist in a letter to build a defense with
guilty if he’ll be spared the cides not to seek the death “In short, a decision by the signed by David Patton, ex- information to be gath-
death penalty, his lawyers penalty for Sayfullo Saipov. government not to seek ecutive director of the Fed- ered halfway around the
said Wednesday. Authorities say the Pater- the death penalty would eral Defenders of New York. globe.q

Suspect charged with murder in college student’s killing

By AMY TAXIN representing was an Eagle
Associated Press Scout and now he’s facing
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) murder,” Munoz said.
— A former high school The district attorney said
classmate of a University the two young men had
of Pennsylvania student both attended the Orange
found stabbed and bur- County School of the Arts
ied in a California park was but he did not know if they
charged Wednesday with were friends at the time.
murder and investigators Woodward communicat-
were looking for evidence ed with Bernstein via Snap-
of a hate crime, a pros- chat on Jan. 2 and then
ecutor said.Samuel Wood- picked him up in a vehicle,
ward, 20, killed 19-year-old Rackauckus said.
Blaze Bernstein with a knife, Bernstein’s parents report-
the complaint said, while ed him missing the following
the college sophomore day. Authorities searched
was visiting his parents on for nearly a week with help
winter break. from drone pilots. His body
Orange County prosecu- was found after rains par-
tors alleged that Wood- tially exposed it.
ward used a deadly weap- The time and place of the
on in the killing — a so- killing remained under in-
called enhancement that vestigation, even though
could allow them to seek the body was found at
more prison time. If con- This undated file photo provided by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department shows Blaze Bernstein. the park, the district attor-
victed, Woodward could A suspect has been arrested in the death of 19-year-old University of Pennsylvania student ney said. Investigators said
face as much as 26 years Bernstein,whose body was found this week at a Southern California park. Woodward had abrasions,
to life in prison. Authorities (Orange County Sheriff’s Department via AP) scratches and dirt on his
said Woodward picked up auckus said at a news a hate crime, we will cry ment but it was postponed hands and was seen during
Bernstein at his parents’ conference. Asked specifi- not only for our son, but for to Feb. 2 and no plea was surveillance cleaning the
home in Lake Forest around cally about hate crime evi- LGBTQ people everywhere entered. In the meantime vehicle, Rackauckus said.
11 p.m. on Jan. 2 and took dence, Rackauckus said, that live in fear or who he’ll remain jailed without The district attorney also
him to a neighborhood “We’re looking for that evi- have been victims of hate bail. His parents were in the said Bernstein’s DNA was
park. His body was found dence and if and when we crime,” Bernstein’s family audience holding hands found on property held by
in a shallow grave there a find it we will amend the said in a statement earlier with a Catholic priest who Woodward but he would
week later. charges and file that.” this week. Woodward told is a friend of the family. not provide any other de-
Prosecutors were still trying Bernstein’s parents have investigators he became “This is a tragedy,” defense tails. Bernstein had been
to determine a motive. said the killing may have angry after Bernstein kissed attorney Edward Munoz studying psychology and
“We’re continuing to been a hate crime against him that night, according said later to reporters. was recently chosen to edit
search for evidence that their son. to a court filing obtained He said his heart goes out a campus culinary maga-
might support special-cir- “There is still much discov- by the Orange County to Bernstein family and that zine. Hundreds of people
cumstances allegations,” ery to be done and if it is Register. Woodward ap- the Woodward family is in attended a candlelight
District Attorney Tony Rack- determined that this was peared in court for arraign- shock. “This young man I’m vigil and his funeral. q

Science panel backs lower drunken driving threshold

By JOAN LOWY alcohol-impaired driving over 120 pounds would alcohol taxes and make report said. It also calls for
Associated Press deaths in the United States reach 0.05 after two drinks. alcohol less conveniently cracking down on sales to
WASHINGTON (AP) — Most each year. The amount of Men weighing up to about available, including reduc- people under 21 or who
women would need to alcohol required to reach 160 pounds would likely ing the hours and days al- are already intoxicated to
draw the line at two drinks, 0.05 would depend on sev- reach the lower threshold cohol is sold in stores, bars discourage binge drinking,
and men at two or three if eral factors, including the at two, and those over 180 and restaurants. Research and putting limits on alco-
states follow a blueprint by person’s size and whether pounds at three. The pan- suggests a doubling of al- hol marketing while funding
a prestigious scientific pan- the person has recently el, in its 489-page report, cohol taxes could lead to anti-alcohol campaigns
el for eliminating the “en- eaten. The report cites stud- also recommended that an 11 percent reduction similar to those against
tirely preventable” 10,000 ies indicating most women states significantly increase in traffic crash deaths, the smoking.q