BEAST’S CROCODILE TEARS
Larry Nassar weeps as brave victim says her dad killed himself when he discovered US gymnastics doctor’s abuse
Kyle Stephens held back tears as she told how Nassar abused her at her family home
DISGRACED gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar cowardly hid his face as one of his victims revealed the abuse she suffered at his hands in chilling detail.
On the first day of sentencing Kyle Stephens, who blames Nassar for her father's suicide, revealed how he repeatedly abused her between the ages of six and 12 at her family home.
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Almost 100 victims are expected to address the Michigan court during the four-day sentencing hearing for 54-year-old Nassar.
Many wept as they told harrowing stories of the sexual abuse and emotional trauma he inflicted on them as children.
But Stephens, the first woman to speak, held back her tears and fixed her glare on Nassar as she branded him a "repulsive liar".
She told the court how Nassar pleasured himself in front of her, rubbed his penis on her bare skin and violated her vagina at her house in Holt, near Lansing.
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She went on: "After my parents confronted you, they brought you back to my house to speak with me.
"Sitting on my living room couch I listened to you tell me that no one should ever do that, and if they do, you should tell someone.
Stephens said Nassar convinced her parents she was lying about him hiding "lotion in the basement so you could beat your penis while I hid", adding: "But I still get sick at the smell of that lotion."
"You convinced my parents that you didn't pull my feet into your lap, unzip your pants, and rub your erect penis against my bare skin. But I still flinch when my feet are near someone's lap."
Mum of gymnast Chelsea Markham who took her own life confronts Larry Nassar at his sentencing
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"'You convinced my parents that you didn't stick your fingers up my adolescent vagina. But I knew, when it came time to use my first tampon that my hymen wasn't intact."
Her parents initially believed him and Stephens blames her father's suicide on the shame and self-loathing he felt for defending Nassar.
The judge consoled the 29 women and girls who spoke, or had their statements read on Tuesday, saying they should not blame themselves.
Nassar has pleaded guilty to molesting females with his hands at his Michigan State University office, his home and a Lansing-area gymnastics club, often while their parents were in the room.
Larry Nassar confronted by ex-gymnasts he abused - Alexis Moore and Jade Capua - at his sentencing
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Another statement came from Donna Markham, who told of how her 23-year-old daughter Chelsey killed herself in 2009, years after Nassar sexually abused her during a medical examination.
"It all started with him," she said, describing her daughter's downward spiral into drug abuse.
Victims described experiencing "searing pain" during the assaults and having feelings of shame and embarrassment.
They said it had changed their life trajectories, affected relationships and made them distrustful of other people.
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Many said it led to depression, suicidal thoughts, anger and anxiety about whether they should have spoken up sooner.
Former US gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar pleads guilty to multiple charges of sexual abuse
"He touched the most innocent places on my body," said 17-year-old Jessica Thomashaw, recounting how she was sexually assaulted at ages 9 and 12.
She added: "I couldn't be just a normal girl anymore, and I forever lost a big piece of my childhood due to his abuse."
Prosecutors are seeking at least 40 years in prison for Nassar, who has already been sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for child pornography crimes.
Olympic gold medallists Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney and Aly Raisman have said they were victims too.
Raisman tweeted Monday that she would not attend the sentencing "because it is too traumatic for me".
She said she wants young athletes "to be safe from sexual predators, from this kind of abuse."