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The parents of an Indian student shot in the head at point blank range early on Boxing Day morning came face to face with his killer yesterday.
Subhash and Yogini Bidve watched intently as Kiaran Stapleton, 21, admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but denied murdering their son, Anuj, at Manchester Crown Court.
The Bidves travelled from their home in India to witness proceedings, following the attack in Salford last year on the 23-year-old postgraduate, who was unknown to the defendant.
The family said they had felt compelled to travel to the UK to see their son's killer.
"We have made the journey from India to the United Kingdom because it was very important to us to hear, in person, Kiaran Stapleton's plea.
"This is the first time we have returned to the UK since Anuj was taken away from us on Boxing Day of last year and the first time we have come face to face with the man charged with his murder, so clearly this is a very emotional and difficult time for us. We have today heard in person that Kiaran Stapleton admitted killing Anuj," they said.
The couple asked for their privacy to be respect ed in the face of huge interest in the case.
Stapleton was remanded in custody until 25 June.