An unlikely hero has emerged from the Larry Nassar trial, with the judge that sentenced him to up to 175 years in prison for sexual assault being heavily praised for her no-nonsense approach.
WATCH AQUILINA HAND NASSAR HIS 'DEATH WARRANT':
On Wednesday, Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina handed Larry Nassar - the former USA Gymnastics team doctor found guilty of multiple counts of sexually assaulting and abusing young girls - what she referred to as a 'death warrant'.
Advert
In the half-hour announcement of her decision, Aquilina told Nassar: "It was not treatment. It was not treatment what you did. It was not medical."
She also went on to say that it was her 'honour and privilege' to sentence Nassar, and said that he doesn't deserve to ever walk out of a prison again.
Addressing Nassar's letter - in which he said he didn't have the mental capacity to listen to the victim impact reports - she said: "This letter, which comes two months after your plea, tells me that you have not yet owned what you did. That you still think that somehow you are right that you are a doctor and you are entitled and you don't have to listen and that you did treatment.
"I would not send my dogs to you, sir."
Advert
She also tossed the letter aside - an incredibly powerful move that did not go unnoticed:
She also shared some chilling facts about child abuse as part of her rousing tyrade against Nassar, saying: "One in 10 children will be sexually abused by their 18th birthday. One in seven girls and one in 25 boys by their 18th birthday.
Advert
"That means that in the United States - I am not talking about any other country - but in the United States, 400,000 babies born in the US will become victims of child sexual abuse.
"It stops now. Speak out like these survivors, become part of the army."
Aquilina added that she would not be responding to any requests from the media, as it is not her story - it is that of the survivors.
"I am just doing my job," she explained.
Advert
"My secretary informed me that I have a growing stack of requests from print media, from television, from magazines, from around the world, literally.
"This story is not about me. It never was about me. I hope I've opened some doors, because you see I am a little stupid - I thought everybody did what I did and if they didn't, maybe they ought to. But I do this and I am happy to do it."
