Hawker parents protest against "distasteful" game
Ms Hawker was found dead in Tokyo in March 2007.
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Saturday, 15, Nov 2008 11:52
The parents of murdered British teacher Lindsay Hawker have expressed anger over the use of the image of their daughter's suspected killer, Tatsuya Ichihashi, in a videogame.
A Japanese company, Famista, is set to release a game which will show the mugshots of some of Japan's most wanted criminals in the hope of helping police catch suspects.
The product which is based on a one-armed bandit features the picture of the suspected killer of the 22-year-old from Coventry. Ms Hawker, who was on a study trip to the country, was found dead in Mr Ichihashi's flat in a bathtub full of sand.
Speaking about the game, Lindsay's mother, Julia Hawker, said she had not been consulted by the makers of the game, adding that she had asked the Japanese police questions about the game through the foreign and commonwealth office.
She told Sky News: "I also want to know if this is a commercial venture, as if it is, then it is in extremely poor taste. The whole thing is distasteful and not befitting Lindsay's memory. To make an entertainment game out of her murder is really hurtful to us as a family."
Speaking to the broadcaster about the venture, a spokesman for the company, Takashi Saito, said: "We thought this could be a new way to contribute to the community.
"There are many internet sites that display photos of those on the wanted list, but they are not necessarily visited frequently. By mixing it with entertainment, we thought we could make some contribution to the police efforts."
Ms Hawker's body was found in March 2007. Since then police have been searching for 28-year-old Mr Ichihashi and have launched many appeals for information.