Speed Reads

this is heartbreaking

Father of abuse victims charges at disgraced doctor Larry Nassar in court

Disgraced doctor Larry Nassar is facing his third sentencing hearing, where once again the presiding judge has allowed time for victim-impact statements. Nassar has been accused by more than 200 athletes of sexually abusing them during treatments while he was a physician for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University.

Friday is the second of four days allotted by Judge Janice Cunningham of Michigan's Eaton County for victim-impact statements. On Friday morning, Randall Margraves — a father to three daughters, all of whom were abused by Nassar — asked Cunningham to "grant me five minutes in a locked room with this demon." There was a bit of laughter in the courtroom as Cunningham declined Margraves' request. He then asked for just "one minute." When Cunningham said she could not grant him that time, Margraves charged at the table where Nassar was seated.

Margraves was intercepted by courtroom security and restrained, where he can be heard saying, "Let me at [him]." The proceedings briefly adjourned after Margraves was removed from the room.

Two of Margraves' daughters gave impact statements Friday morning and were in the courtroom when their father spoke. His third daughter delivered her statement at Nassar's second sentencing hearing last month in Michigan's Ingham County. There, after several days of victim testimony — including powerful statements from Olympic gold medalists Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber — Judge Rosemarie Aquilina sentenced Nassar to 40 to 175 years in prison.