Lindsay Hawker murder suspect arrested in Japan

Tue Nov 10 2009 15:08:43

The prime suspect in the murder of British teacher Lindsay Ann Hawker has been arrested by police in Japan.

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."

30-year-old Ichihashi had been on the run and it was reported that he might have undergone cosmetic surgery to change his appearance.

Bill Hawker, Lindsay's father welcomed the arrest of her suspected killer and said: "We wanted justice and we've finally got justice."

Ms Hawker's body was found in a bathtub full of sand in Tokyo in 2007. The 22-year-old, from Brandon, near Coventry, was pursuing her dream of teaching English in Japan.

She was last seen on March 25, 2007 with Ichihashi, and her body was discovered on the balcony of his flat.

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