Lindsay Family Thanks Japan As Killer Jailed

The father of murdered British teacher Lindsay Ann Hawker has praised the Japanese authorities for finding her killer, who has been sentenced to life in prison.

Tatsuya Ichihashi admitted killing the 22-year-old in March 2007 but said her death was accidental. Miss Hawker's body was found buried in a sand-filled bathtub on the balcony of Ichihashi's flat in Ichikawa City, east of Tokyo. She had earlier given him an English lesson in a nearby cafe.

Miss Hawker's parents Bill and Julia and sisters Lisa and Louise were in the court in the city of Chiba to hear the verdict in the long-awaited trial.

Lindsay's family had called for the death sentence

Speaking after the sentencing, Mr Hawker said: "We've waited four-and-a-half years to get justice for Lindsay. We have achieved that today, and we are very pleased."

After the killing Ichihashi, 32, went on the run for over two years, living rough and even resorting to plastic surgery to change his appearance. During the manhunt, the Hawker family travelled to and from Japan to raise awareness of the case and distribute flyers about the missing suspect.

Ichihashi was finally caught when his plastic surgeon contacted police in November 2009.