Father of Larry Nassar victims attacks disgraced doctor in courtroom

This is the dramatic moment a father whose three daughters were molested by disgraced former US gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar tried to attack him in the middle of a court hearing while shouting ‘give me one minute with that bastard’.

Randal Margraves, the father of Madison and Lauren Margraves, had been invited by the judge to say something directly to Nassar, who is thought to have abused more than 250 girls and women.

He asked the judge: ‘I would ask you to, as part of the sentencing, to grant me five minutes in a locked room with this demon. Would you do that?’

The judge replied: ‘You know that I can’t do that.’

Mr Margraves then ran towards Nassar, lunging at him before being restrained by court officials.

On the ground he could be heard shouting: ‘Give me one minute with that bastard. One minute.’

Bailiffs could be heard saying to him. “Relax sir, relax. Take it easy, buddy.”

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Two of Mr Margraves’ daughters had given statements to the court, and said their other sister also had been molested by Nassar.

Crying could be hurt in the courtroom as Nassar was escorted out.

Assistant attorney general Angela Povilaitis told the families in the courtroom to “use your words” and that violence “is not helping your children”.

More than 265 women and girls have come forward to say they were sexual assault victims of the doctor over the course of two decades.

He was sentenced to 175 years in prison during a hearing last week. This sentence is added to an existing 60 years in prison for possessing child pornography.

His case has sparked broader outrage after numerous victims accused USA Gymnastics, the sport’s governing body, and Michigan State University, where Nassar worked, of failing to investigate complaints about him going back years.

U.S. Olympic officials have also been criticised by some of the sport’s biggest stars, including gold medallists Aly Raisman, Simone Biles and McKayla Maroney.

On Thursday, the police department in Meridian, Michigan, apologised publicly to one victim for declining to press charges against Nassar in 2004 when she reported that he abused her.

The Wall Street Journal also said on Thursday that U.S. Olympic officials did not intervene after being told in 2015 that USA Gymnastics had uncovered possible abuse by Nassar.

USA Gymnastics’ board of directors agreed to a demand by the U.S. Olympic Committee that they all resign in the wake of Nassar’s sentencing, as did the president and athletic director of Michigan State.

The scandal has prompted several investigations into those institutions.