Larry Nassar, former US Gymnastics Doctor, was sentenced to 40 to 125 years in prison on Monday, 5 February. This is his third and final sentencing, the previous ones being of 40 to 175 years in Ingham County and 60 years in Federal Court. It also marks the end of three weeks of court hearings of tremendous emotional and social significance.
The former doctor reportedly abused over 200 young women over the course of two decades under the guise of medical treatment. Nassar had pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal sexual conduct in Eaton County, reported CNN.
According to an NBC News report, apologising to the court during his sentence hearing in Eaton County, Nassar said that the words expressed by everyone had deeply affected him.
The visions of your testimonies will forever be present in my thoughts.
The judge however did not seem too convinced by his apology. Citing his claims from the previous month that the invasive pelvic procedures he performed were not sexual, Eaton County Court Judge Janice Cunningham said she did not believe that Larry Nassar was truly remorseful.
I am not convinced that you truly understand that what you did was wrong and the devastating impact you’ve had on the victims, family and friends.Judge Janice Cunningham
“The Tables Have Turned, Larry”
Nassar’s case hearing stood out for the deeply cathartic value and impact. The judge invited survivors of abuse meted out by Nassar to come forth and share their deepest thoughts and feelings. These women came from all walks of life and shared their truth in front of their perpetrator.
“The tables have turned Larry” said Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, according to a CNN report, in Ingham County court. “We are here. We have our voice, and we are not going anywhere.”
According to a report by DailyMail, 16-year-old Arianna Guerrero said:
I’m only 16. I should not even know what a victim-impact statement is, or what the inside of a courtroom looks like, let alone writing my own and reading it to you now.
On Friday, 2 February, a deeply agitated father of three victims lunged towards Nassar in an attempt to attack him, reported CNN.
Did They Not Know?
A number of women said they felt violated during his “pelvic floor” treatment in which he put his fingers into young girls’ vaginas, saying that it was a cure that could fix any number of physical injuries, reported CNN. They had even complained to coaches, trainers and even police. However, since he was a respected doctor who treated the world’s best gymnasts, their concerns were not looked into.
Addressing Nassar’s alleged enablers, Lindsey Lemke said: “Larry, I hope you, (MSU president) Lou Anna Simon, (MSU gymnastics coach) Kathie Klages, (Twistars owner) John Geddert and all of USAG are scared. Because you have pissed off the wrong army of women.”
According to DailyMail, the courtroom erupted in applause.
USA Gymnastics, however, stated that it became aware of Nassar’s sexual abuse only in the summer of 2015 when three top gymnasts reported abuse, reported CNN.
(With inputs from CNN, DailyMail)
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