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Man charged with bathtub murder | Man charged with bathtub murder |
(20 minutes later) | |
A man has been charged with the rape and murder of a British teacher who was found buried in a sand-filled bath in Japan. | |
Japanese student Tatsuya Ichihashi, 30, is accused of killing Lindsay Ann Hawker, 22, who lived in Brandon, near Coventry. | |
Her body was found at Mr Ichihashi's Tokyo flat in March 2007. | Her body was found at Mr Ichihashi's Tokyo flat in March 2007. |
Miss Hawker's parents spoke of their relief that the main suspect in their daughter's death was facing trial. | |
Miss Hawker, a Leeds University graduate, was teaching English at Koiwa school in Tokyo when she went missing. | |
On the run | |
She was last seen alive after giving Mr Ichihashi an English lesson in a coffee shop on 25 March. | |
Her battered and bound naked body was found in a bath filled with sand at Mr Ichihashi's home. | |
Mr Ichihashi was arrested at a ferry port in Osaka, southern Japan, after he went on the run for more than two-and-a-half years. | |
Tatsuya Ichihashi has been charged with rape and murder | |
In a statement Miss Hawker's parents, Bill and Julia, said they were pleased Mr Ichihashi had been charged. | |
They said: "The Hawker family are relieved that Ichihashi was captured on November 10. | |
"Our fight for justice for our daughter Lindsay was directed at the capture of Tatsuya Ichihashi. It was a long two years and seven months battle. | |
"The Japanese police and justice system will now deal with him, in line with Japanese law. | |
"Bill has just returned from Japan, heartened by the fact that the authorities are doing all they can to bring these charges and make him stand trial. | |
"We have supported the Japanese police investigation throughout and are relieved that Tatsuya Ichihashi has now been charged." | |
Earlier this month Mr Hawker flew to Japan to thank police there for finding the prime suspect in the case. | Earlier this month Mr Hawker flew to Japan to thank police there for finding the prime suspect in the case. |