Parents fly to Tokyo for Lindsay Hawker murder trial

The parents of murdered British teacher Lindsay Hawker flew to Japan yesterday for her alleged killer's trial. Ms Hawker, 22, was found dead in a flat in Chiba, east of Tokyo, in March 2007.

Tatsuya Ichihashi, 32, one of her students at an English language school, was arrested in 2009 and is going on trial for her murder tomorrow. Bill and Julia Hawker, who were joined at Heathrow by their daughters Lisa, 29, and Louise, 24, will give evidence. Under the Japanese legal system, the couple will also have the chance to question Mr Ichihashi themselves. Mr Hawker gave a brief statement, saying: "We are travelling to Tokyo today for the trial of Ichihashi and we are hoping to get justice for our daughter. That has always been our aim."