Airport appeal for killed teacher

Bill Hawker handed out leaflets to travellers

The father of a teacher murdered in Japan is marking six months since her death with an appeal at an airport.

The body of Lindsay Ann Hawker, 22, from Brandon near Coventry, was found in March in a bath filled with sand in Ichikawa, east of Tokyo.

She was found when police went to Tatsuya Ichihashi's flat, but he fled before he could be arrested.

Bill Hawker will spend the day handing out leaflets at Heathrow Airport to passengers flying to Japan.

The leaflets show pictures and contain descriptions in both English and Japanese of 28-year-old Mr Ichihashi, the prime suspect, who has not been seen since.

Mr Hawker said he hoped the extra publicity could help lead them to the main suspect in her daughter's murder.

Lindsay Ann Hawker had gone to Japan to teach English

Leeds University graduate Ms Hawker had gone to Japan to teach English and reportedly agreed to give lessons to Mr Ichihashi a week before her death.

They arranged to meet in a coffee shop in Ichikawa but she never returned to her home and police later found her body in a sand-filled bath in Mr Ichihashi's flat.

He fled his apartment when officers arrived to investigate, losing his shoes and a rucksack in a chase.

Mr Hawker's leaflets say: "Lindsay was a beautiful girl who didn't deserve to die.

"She had her whole life ahead of her and her family now urge you to help them get justice for Lindsay.

"When you arrive in Japan please remember the suspect's face and if you see him or see anything suspicious please report it to the police in Japan."

Police believe Ms Hawker had been subjected to a prolonged attack. Her hair was also cut off.