Father wants killer locked away forever

The family of a young British teacher brutally murdered in Japan yesterday called for her suspected killer to be locked away "forever" after the prime suspect in the case was arrested.

Tatsuya Ichihashi was arrested at a ferry port in Osaka, southern Japan, on suspicion of killing 22-year-old Lindsay Hawker.

The battered and bound body of the young teacher was found buried naked in a sand-filled bathtub at Ichihashi's flat in Tokyo. The 30-year-old has been on the run since Ms Hawker's death and had reportedly undergone plastic surgery in a bid to alter his appearance.

Ms Hawker's father Bill, speaking from the family home in Brandon, near Coventry, said: "We have worked tirelessly as a family - we have never given in for our daughter.

"We wanted justice and we have finally got justice."

Clearly feeling the strain of the situation Mr Hawker, supported by his family, broke down in tears several times as he spoke to the press.

He added: "This has been a long hard battle and the battle is over."

His daughter, a Leeds University graduate, was last seen alive on March 25, 2007, with Mr Ichihashi.

She was working in Japan to pursue her dream of teaching English.

It is thought she met Mr Ichihashi after offering to give him an English lesson. The labourer was caught after a surgeon came forward with information about Mr Ichihashi, who is believed to have had surgery to change his appearance.

Police detained him at the ferry port after receiving an emergency call at about 6 p.m. local time yesterday, Japanese media reported.