Larry Nassar Father Of Molested Girls Lunges At Disgraced US Doctor In Court
A father whose three daughters say they were sexually abused by Larry Nassar lunged at the disgraced former USA Gymnastics doctor in a Michigan courtroom Friday, bringing his sentencing hearing to an abrupt halt while the order was restored.Larry Nassar
The disruption came on the last day of victim impact statements before Nassar -- already condemned to spend dozens of years behind bars on child sex abuse and pornography charges -- hears his final sentence on Monday.
Randall Margraves had to be restrained by three court security officers.Larry Nassar
Before rushing to the table where Nassar was sitting, the man had asked to have "five minutes in a locked room with that demon".
Judge Janice Cunningham said she could not allow that.
Mr. Margraves then asked the judge for just one minute, to awkward laughter from the courtroom.
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The judge repeated her refusal - and shouts and gasps were heard as the furious father bolted towards Nassar, who was present in an orange prison jumpsuit.Larry Nassar
Court security staff try to shield Larry Nassar after the father of three of his victims lunged at image copyright Reuters
Image caption Larry Nassar
Court security staff try to shield Larry Nassar
An angry father had to be restrained in court after lunging at pedophile doctor Larry NassarImage copyright Reuters
Image caption
Mr. Margraves was tackled by three guards
The dramatic intervention brought Nassar's final sentencing hearing on sexual abuse charges to an abrupt halt.
"I want that son of a bitch!" Mr. Margraves shouted as he was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed.
"What if this happened to you guys?" he demanded of the officers who escorted him from the courtroom.
Two of the Margraves daughters, Madison and Lauren, had just testified about their abuse at the hands of the doctor.
The incident came as dozens of young women waited for their turn to face Nassar in court.
Mr. Margraves later came back to the courtroom to apologize for his actions and was told he would not face charges.
Larry Nassar
Madison Rae Margraves gives her victim impact statement as her parents and sister Lauren listen during the sentencing hearing for Larry NassarImage copyright Reuters
Image caption
Madison Rae Margraves gives her victim impact statement, alongside her parents and sister Lauren
Nassar, a former US Olympic gymnastics team doctor, was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison a week ago after testimony from nearly 160 of his victims.
In handing down that sentence, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina told Nassar: "Sir, you do not deserve to walk outside of a prison ever again."
The 54-year-old was already serving 60 years in prison for possession of child sex abuse images.
Gymnasts and Olympic gold medallists Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber were among those the doctor molested.
Other victims were taken to be treated by him at Michigan State University (MSU), where he worked as a sports doctor between 1997 and 2016.
Larry Nassar
Larry Nassar
Also Wednesday, former Michigan Gov. John Engler was formally named an interim president at Michigan State, following Lou Anna Simon's resignation last week from the school's top post. Engler will head the school as it deals with lawsuits filed by more than 100 abuse victims and investigations by the state attorney general, the NCAA, and Congress.
Engler, a Republican who was governor from 1991 through 2002, said he would strive to lead the school without regard to politics.
"I think we start from the standpoint: How do we change things?" he said. "That starts today."
Trustees also named another former governor, Democrat Jim Blanchard, to advise the school on lawsuits and investigations.
Elsewhere, USA Gymnastics announced that every member of its board of directors has resigned. The resignations come less than a week after the U.S. Olympic Committee urged the board to step down over the widening Nassar allegations. The organization plans to appoint an interim board in February.
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