Family of British teacher murdered in Japan make fresh appeal
Monday, 24 Mar 2008 08:21
The body of Lindsay Ann Hawker was found in a Tokyo flat
The family of a British teacher who was murdered in Japan last year have made a fresh appeal for information in helping catch her killer.
Lindsay, 22, was found dead in a bath tub full of sand in a Tokyo flat a year ago but her attacker has never been found.
Her parents and two sisters made the plea for information regarding her death at Heathrow airport before flying out to Japan for a three-day trip.
"All of Lindsay's family and friends all over the world remain determined to keep up their efforts, and to seek justice for their daughter, sister and friend," Lindsay's father Bill said.
"Please don't let Lindsay's death be in vain, help us to get justice for Lindsay.
"She was an amazing young woman, who travelled to Japan to teach. She was brutally murdered and this evil man needs to be caught before he strikes again."
The Hawker family are heading to Japan in the hope of raising the profile of the case in the local media.
They plan on distributing posters and leaflets bearing the image of Tatsuya Ichihashi - the prime suspect in Lindsay's murder.
Mr Ichihashi was due to have English lessons with Lindsay on the day she died and was seen fleeing the flat in which her body was later found.
Mr Hawker claimed he had mixed emotions regarding his daughter's alleged killer: "He murdered her, buried her in a bath, he was just going to leave her on his balcony and I've been to that area, there are children around, what kind of man can commit a crime and carry on regardless?
"We do believe he's alive, that he's been sighted. I hope he's alive to face justice but a part of me says I hope he's dead because I don't want to return to Japan and go through a trial, but if he is dead I don't want him to have suffered a quick death," he added.