The parents of slain Briton Lindsay Ann Hawker will not attend Tatsuya Ichihashi's March 15 appeal against the life sentence he got for killing their daughter, their representative said Thursday.
Prosecutors contacted Bill Hawker, 58, and his wife, Julia, 55, in late February to discuss whether their attendance at the trial was necessary.
Following the talks, the Hawkers agreed to submit statements to the Tokyo High Court expressing their feelings about Ichihashi, 33, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by a lower court in July for murdering their 22-year-old daughter, their representative said.
However, Bill Hawker was quoted as saying he is willing to travel to Japan if prosecutors decide his attendance is necessary.