Morning:
8°c
Lock killer away forever, says murdered British teacher's father
11 Nov 2009
The family of a young British teacher brutally murdered in Japan called for her suspected killer to be locked away "forever" after the prime suspect in the case was arrested.
Tatsuya Ichihashi was arrested at a ferry port in Osaka, southern Japan, on suspicion of killing 22-year-old Lindsay Hawker.
The battered and bound body of the young teacher was found buried naked in a sand-filled bathtub at Ichihashi's flat in Tokyo.
The 30-year-old had been on the run since Hawker's death and had reportedly undergone plastic surgery in a bid to alter his appearance.
Hawker's father Bill, speaking from the family home in Brandon, near Coventry, said: "We have worked tirelessly as a family - we have never given in for our daughter.
"We wanted justice and we have finally got justice."
Clearly feeling the strain of the situation Mr Hawker, supported by his family, broke down in tears several times as he spoke to the press yesterday.
He added: "This has been a long hard battle and the battle is over."
His daughter, a Leeds University graduate, was last seen alive on March 25, 2007, with Ichihashi.
She was working in Japan to pursue her dream of teaching English.
It is thought she met Ichihashi after offering to give him an English lesson.
The labourer was caught after a surgeon came forward with information about Ichihashi, who is believed to have had surgery to change his appearance.
Police detained him at the ferry port after receiving an emergency call at about 6pm local time yesterday, Japanese media reported.
He told officers "I am Ichihashi", according to the Yomiuri Shinbun newspaper.
It is thought he may have been attempting to board a ferry to Okinawa, a chain of islands at the southern tip of Japan.
Mr Hawker added: "I would like to thank everyone here because the press have always helped us in this case.
"I would also like to thank the Japanese police. After a bungled start to my daughter's murder, they have got their man.
"Their chief officer told me they would get the man sooner or later - we are just so relieved that this part of our life is over."
Mr Hawker said Ichihashi had shown no remorse and should be given the maximum available penalty if he is found guilty.
Lindsay's mother Julia also thanked the media for their role in helping to hunt down the fugitive.
But Mrs Hawker added: "I would just like everybody to realise that it doesn't lessen the pain."
Describing her daughter as an amazing young woman, Mrs Hawker added: "She wasn't just beautiful, she was intellectually gifted - she absolutely loved her life there."
Mr Hawker pledged to do all he could to bring Ichihashi to justice.
He said he had already made formal statements to the Japanese police shortly after Lindsay's murder and said he would be prepared to travel to Japan to assist police there.
Mr Hawker said he understood that Ichihashi was trying to evade capture until the moment he was arrested.
"We have gone this far and we want to see it completely through," he said. "We want to see Ichihashi locked away forever."
Lindsay's sisters Lisa, 26, and Louise, 22, also spoke to the media.
The older sister said: "I would like to echo what my parents have said.
"We thank the Japanese press and we thank the Japanese people, but, really, it's us that have done this.
"All the sleepless nights, all the not eating, all the crying ... it's all been worth it now we have got what we wanted - justice for Lindsay."
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are glad and relieved that the only suspect in this case, Tatsuya Ichihashi, has been found and is now in police custody.
"We are grateful to the Japanese police for their efforts and we remain in close contact with the Hawker family."
Reader views (3)
I hope they give him the death penalty - scumbag.
- Bj, Sydney Australia, 12/11/2009 07:37
Report abuse
There's no way he would have gotten three years in a U.K. jail, Steve. Try 200 hours community service. Criminal justice in the U.K. is a total total farce. You can kill with impunity.
- Phil Jones, London UK, 11/11/2009 16:49
Report abuse
In that case it was a good job he was nicked in Japan.Had he been over here he'd be looking at three years inside.
- Steve, London, 11/11/2009 15:24
Report abuse
