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Father's tribute to dead teacher Dead UK teacher 'helped anybody'
(about 1 hour later)
The father of a British woman found dead in Japan in a bath filled with sand has said he "will not rest" until her killer is caught. The father of a British teacher found dead in Japan in a bath filled with sand has said he "will not rest" until her killer is caught.
Bill Hawker travelled to Tokyo after 22-year-old Lindsay Ann, a teacher, was discovered by police on a balcony at a block of flats in the city. Bill Hawker travelled to Tokyo after 22-year-old Lindsay Ann was discovered on an apartment balcony in the city.
Mr Hawker, of Brandon, near Coventry, said: "My daughter didn't come here to be murdered... she came here to teach." Mr Hawker, of Brandon, near Coventry, said: "My daughter didn't come here to be murdered... she came here to teach. She would have helped anybody."
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of the man living at the flat.A warrant has been issued for the arrest of the man living at the flat.
Miss Hawker's family say the 28-year-old suspect had not been known to her. He has been named as 28-year-old Tatsuya Ichihashi. He has been named as 28-year-old Tatsuya Ichihashi.
She took her job seriously and put every effort into it Nova language school class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6502219.stm">Profile: Lindsay Ann Hawker 'Lovely girl'
While Mr Hawker and Lindsay Ann's long-term boyfriend Ryan Garside travelled to Tokyo, relatives still at the family home in the village of Brandon appealed for privacy "at this distressing time". Miss Hawker's father and her long-term boyfriend Ryan Garside are in Tokyo to formally identify her body.
They have been in contact with local police who have been relaying back details of the investigation in Japan. Mr Hawker told a press conference his daughter had researched Japan thoroughly, before taking up work as an English teacher, to make sure she knew the dangers.
Chief Inspector Dale Pritchard, of Warwickshire Police, said: "They are in a terrible position, one in which no-one would ever want to be. That man has ruined mine and Lindsay's plan - he ruined our dream Ryan GarsideMiss Hawker's boyfriend class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6502219.stm">Profile: Lindsay Ann Hawker
"They just want to be left alone to manage their grief in private." He also insisted she had not been in a relationship with Mr Ichihashi.
"I believe my daughter was tricked into going to this man's apartment under the pretext of giving English lessons," he said.
"My daughter was a lovely girl, she would have helped anybody. And it was because she would help anybody, she is where she is now."
Mr Hawker said he thought Mr Ichihashi was a loner and a "social misfit" and insisted: "I will not rest until the suspect is caught."
'Reported missing'
Mr Garside told the press conference he had been with Miss Hawker for four years.
"She was the best thing in my life," he said.
"I loved her so, so much. We planned to one day get married and start a family.
"That man has ruined mine and Lindsay's plan - he ruined our dream."
Miss Hawker graduated last year from Leeds University and had been teaching English at Koiwa school in Tokyo.Miss Hawker graduated last year from Leeds University and had been teaching English at Koiwa school in Tokyo.
The cause of death is not yet known but there were bruises on the victim's face. She was reported missing by her flatmates on Monday afternoon after disappearing from her home on Sunday.
Disappearance
The teacher was reported missing by her flatmates on Monday afternoon after she had disappeared from her home on Sunday.
Local media reported that Miss Hawker, who had been in Japan for only a few months, was a popular teacher.
Miss Hawker's family say she did not know the suspectMiss Hawker's family say she did not know the suspect
They said she had gone to Mr Ichihashi's apartment for the first time on Saturday to give English lessons to him. It is believed she had gone to Mr Ichihashi's apartment for the first time on Saturday to give English lessons to him.
She had left details of the address at home before she disappeared. She had left details of the address at home.
A handbag and a passport thought to belong to Miss Hawker were found near the apartment. Mr Hawker appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
The Nova language school in London, which employed Miss Hawker, said in a statement that she had joined its teaching team on 25 October. "I wouldn't like this to happen to any other family. I'm just a normal man, I don't expect this in my life," he said.
'No struggle'
Japanese police say Miss Hawker suffered severe injuries to her face and arms.
A handbag and a passport thought to belong to her were found near her body.
Superintendent Yoshihiro Sugita, from Chiba Prefectural Police, told local media: "We have found no traces of blood and there was no sign of a physical struggle.
"The victim was completely naked and her clothes were around the apartment, although we don't know whether they were taken off by her or by the suspect."
Miss Hawker kept in touch with her boyfriend via the website Facebook and in one of her last entries on 20 March, she spoke of a man following her.
She wrote: "Love u lots don't worry abt the gut (guy) who chased me home, its jus crazy Japan. miss u xxx."
Mr Garside wrote to her last Sunday, demanding to know why she had not written: "Get in touch you fool! Why you never email??"
The Nova language school in London, which employed Miss Hawker, said in a statement she had joined its team on 25 October.
"She took her job seriously and put every effort into it. She was trying to get used to Japan. We are very sorry that this has happened," it said."She took her job seriously and put every effort into it. She was trying to get used to Japan. We are very sorry that this has happened," it said.
The school was co-operating fully with the investigation, it added.
George Fisher, the head teacher of King Henry VIII School, in Coventry, where Miss Hawker was a pupil until 2003, said staff were very upset by her death.
"I knew Lindsay well. She was a very popular student and the school and staff are devastated," he said.