Judge in sex pest doctor case labelled a hero
Doug Ferguson
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles has thanked Judge Rosemarie Aquilina and called her a hero following the sentencing of former sports doctor Larry Nassar.
Nassar, who admitted molesting some of the top United States gymnasts for years, was sentenced yesterday to 40 to 175 years in prison.
Aquilina allowed any and all survivors of Nassar’s abuse to deliver victim impact statements in the Michigan court, to which more than 150 women testified, including Olympians Biles, Aly Raisman, Jordyn Wieber and McKayla Maroney.
“To Judge Aquilina: Thank you, you are my hero,” Biles wrote in an Instagram post, adding: “Shout out to all of the survivors for being so brave and speaking like the queens that you are while looking at that monster. He will no longer have the power to steal our happiness or joy. I stand with every one of you.”
Biles also wrote: “Although there is not a scripted path to healing. I know it makes me feel relieved that he can no longer hurt any more beautiful souls.”
Biles’ tweet and Instagram posts included a picture of Aquilina with the quote: “Leave your pain here. Go out and do your magnificent things.”
As she sentenced Nassar, Aquilina told him: “I just signed your death warrant.”
The sentence capped a remarkable seven-day hearing in which more than 150 women and girls offered statements about being abused by Nassar, a physician who was renowned for treating athletes at the sport’s highest levels. Many confronted him face to face in the Michigan courtroom.
“It is my honour and privilege to sentence you. You do not deserve to walk outside a prison ever again. You have done nothing to control those urges and anywhere you walk, destruction will occur to those most vulnerable,” the judge said.
Nassar’s actions were calculated, manipulative, despicable”.
When the hearing ended, the courtroom broke into applause. Victims and prosecutors embraced at the conclusion of the gruelling 16-month case.
But the anguish of the past week will have little, if any, practical effect on Nassar’s fate. Before serving the Michigan sentence, the 54-year-old must first serve a 60-year federal sentence for child pornography crimes. With credit for good behaviour, he could complete that sentence in about 55 years. By then, he would be more than 100 years old if still alive.
He is also scheduled to be sentenced next week on more assault convictions. “precise, devious, — AP
Prosecutor Angela Povilaitis called Nassar “possibly the most prolific serial child sex abuser in history” and said competitive gymnastics provided the “perfect place” for his crimes because victims saw him as a “god”.
She urged people to believe young victims of sexual abuse no matter who they accuse and praised journalists, including those at the Indianapolis Star.
The newspaper’s 2016 investigation of how the sport’s governing body handled sexual abuse allegations against coaches prompted a former gymnast to alert the paper to Nassar.
The judge also called for a broader investigation into how the abuse was allowed to go on for so long.
She said justice “requires more” than what she can do. The US Olympic Committee announced an independent inquiry to determine “who knew what and when”.
Brooke Hylek, a gymnast who plans to compete in college, heaped scorn on Nassar. “I cannot believe I ever trusted you, and I will never forgive you,” she said in court. “I’m happy you will be spending the rest of your life in prison. Enjoy hell, by the way.” — AP