Hawker murder suspect fast claim

Thu Nov 12 2009 11:33:42

The prime suspect behind the murder of British teacher Lindsay-Ann Hawker has appeared briefly in public.

Tatsuya Ichihashi had his face slightly covered over by the hood of his windbreaker. He looked expressionless as he was led to a waiting van on another day of questioning by prosecutors.

The 30-year-old is being held at a detention centre after his arrest earlier this week.

Japanese media are reporting that Ichihashi is refusing to eat any food and will only drink the occasional cup of tea.

Investigators have also said he is not answering any questions related to the murder of 22-year-old English teacher from Brandon, near Coventry.

She was found dead and naked in a bath of sand, on the balcony of Ichihashi's apartment in Ichikawa, east of Tokyo, in March 2007.

He was caught after more than two years on the run in the western Japanese city of Osaka as he tried to board a ferry to the southern-most Japanese islands of Okinawa.

Ichihashi had dominated domestic media for the past week before his arrest after reports that he had plastic surgery to hide his identity.

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