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Hawker murder family fly to Japan Hawker murder family fly to Japan
(about 11 hours later)
The parents of a British teacher found murdered in a bath of sand in Japan leave for the country later to mark the one-year anniversary of her death. The parents of a teacher found murdered in a bath of sand in Tokyo have again appealed for help catching her killer.
Bill and Julia Hawker hope to raise the profile of the hunt for Tatsuya Ichihashi, who is suspected of killing Lindsay Ann Hawker, 22, from Coventry. Bill and Julia Hawker are flying to Japan to raise the profile of the hunt for the killer of Lindsay Ann, 22, who was found dead last March.
The couple, from Brandon, near Coventry, said they hoped to finally "get justice" by helping catch murder suspect Tatsuya Ichihashi.
Police recently issued posters showing how he may look disguised as a woman.Police recently issued posters showing how he may look disguised as a woman.
Mrs Hawker said being so far away from the investigation had been "very traumatic" for the family. Mr and Mrs Hawker made their appeal at Heathrow Airport as they prepared to fly to Tokyo.
Potential sightings 'Justice for Lindsay'
Ms Hawker body was found in a sand-filled bathtub at the suspect's flat in Ichikawa, east of Tokyo, last March. Clutching a photo of his daughter, Mr Hawker described her as "a beautiful girl who went to the other side of the world to teach English".
He said: "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.
Police say Tatsuya Ichihashi could be disguised as a woman
"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."
His daughter's body was found in a sand-filled bathtub at Mr Ichihashi's flat in Ichikawa, east of Tokyo.
When police arrived, he fled, losing his shoes and a rucksack in the chase.When police arrived, he fled, losing his shoes and a rucksack in the chase.
It is thought Ms Hawker, from Brandon, near Coventry, had arranged to meet him for English lessons. It is thought Ms Hawker had arranged to meet him for English lessons.
Police believe Tatsuya Ichihashi might be disguised as a woman Learning Japanese
Mr and Mrs Hawker, 51, are travelling to Japan with their two daughters Lisa, 26, and Louise, 23.
They have been learning Japanese in preparation for the trip.
Lindsay Ann Hawker's body was found in a bath on a balcony
Lisa Hawker said the family would not give up the hunt for Mr Ichihashi.
She said: "He committed a dreadful act on my sister, it wasn't just murder, and that's why he needs to be taken off the streets."
The family intend to give a news conference on Easter Monday in the hope of raising the profile of the case.The family intend to give a news conference on Easter Monday in the hope of raising the profile of the case.
Mrs Hawker said: "We're going back to Japan so that we can remind everybody that Ichihashi, the only suspect in the case, is still at large.Mrs Hawker said: "We're going back to Japan so that we can remind everybody that Ichihashi, the only suspect in the case, is still at large.
"We want to raise the awareness and make a plea to the Japanese people to try and help us find him, and if they have any information to contact the Japanese police."We want to raise the awareness and make a plea to the Japanese people to try and help us find him, and if they have any information to contact the Japanese police.
"The problem is, because we're 7,000 miles away, it's very difficult to maintain communications.""The problem is, because we're 7,000 miles away, it's very difficult to maintain communications."
She said Japanese police had had more than 2,000 potential sightings during the past 12 months which they were following up.She said Japanese police had had more than 2,000 potential sightings during the past 12 months which they were following up.
Mrs Hawker added: "We're satisfied that the police are working very hard but we're disappointed that initially they let Ichihashi escape.Mrs Hawker added: "We're satisfied that the police are working very hard but we're disappointed that initially they let Ichihashi escape.
"We realise that we have to rely on the Japanese police, they're our only means of apprehending this man, and we want to give them all the support we can.""We realise that we have to rely on the Japanese police, they're our only means of apprehending this man, and we want to give them all the support we can."
'Brought shame'
Speaking to the BBC's Chris Hogg in Tokyo, the man leading the investigation, Detective Shinya Oguma, said the words of Mr Hawker were "engraved" on the hearts of everyone working to find her killer.
On an earlier visit to Japan, Mr Hawker said Ichihashi had "brought shame to this country".
"We want to help Lindsay to rest in peace, we never forget that and so we carry on," said Detective Oguma.
Lindsay Ann Hawker's body was found in a bath on a balcony
He added: "When an offender is determined to run and hide, it's hard to find him.
"Ichihashi didn't have a phone or a credit card, anything that might make him easier to trace."
Friends of Ms Hawker recently gathered to hand out fliers appealing to the Japanese people for any information that might lead to the arrest of the suspect.
Paul Dingwell, a fellow teacher who knew Lindsay well, said the disappearance of the suspect reflected badly on the Japanese.
"They should feel some kind of guilt that this has happened in their country, to someone who came here to help," he said.