Teacher's sister returns to Japan

Lindsay Ann Hawker died in March 2007

The sister of a Warwickshire teacher murdered in Japan has described how she has tried to rebuild her life since.

Lisa Hawker, 27, said she still missed her sister Lindsay Ann "in every part of my life", but it was getting easier to cope with.

Miss Hawker spoke before returning to Japan to raise awareness of the case on the second anniversary of the murder.

Her father, Bill, said they hoped to put the face of suspected killer Tatsuya Ichihashi "on the front pages".

Lindsay, 22, from Brandon, near Coventry, was murdered after giving an English lesson to Ichihashi in a coffee shop in Tokyo on 25 March, 2007.

Her body was found in a bath when police went to Ichihashi's flat, but he fled before he could be arrested and has never been found.

Tatsuya Ichihashi is the prime suspect in the case

Lisa Hawker was travelling to Tokyo on Saturday with her parents and sister Louise.

She said the first six months after the murder were the worst to cope with, but she had since been gradually rebuilding her life.

"You had moments when you felt guilty for feeling happy again," she said.

"But now those moments have turned into the times when I remember Lindsay the most because how I remember Lindsay is laughing and telling rubbish jokes and just giggling all the time.

"I miss her shopping, in just in every part of my life I miss her - but it's getting easier."

During their four-day visit, the family will meet the new detective heading the case and hold media interviews and hand out leaflets to raise awareness.