Here Skynews talks about Lindsay being found naked in a bathtub full of sand, and the unfortunate discovery that she died of strangulation (although I’ve seen reports such as in the guardian’s coverage, where Japanese authorities denied her death by strangulation). The perp ran from the scene, barefoot, with a backpack full of clothing and money which, in his haste, he left behind. Her face was bruised, and her personal items were strewn about the flat.
UK Express
The Daily Mail has some lovely pictures of the poor girl.
Police raid following the trail of Tatsuya Ichihashi, pictured here.
A team of 20 officers took up positions around the Hotel Chateau, a “love hotel” in Nishi-Funabashi, east of Tokyo, where rooms are rented to couples by the hour.
They were following up a reported sighting of Tatsuya Ichihashi, 28, in whose home Ms Hawker’s body was found buried in an earth-filled bath. After a search of the premises, broadcast on Japanese television, they emerged frustrated, seemingly no closer to finding their quarry than when he escaped from under their noses on Monday night.
I’m sure they’ll get him, unless his doctor father pulls some strings to obstruct justice.
This is a sad story and as a fellow educator in Japan my thoughts go out to her family and friends. However, I do believe there is more to come out about this story. I have talked about it in my blog article and made comments on a couple of details that have been mentioned by the media, but not questioned or investigated by reporters as of yet.
The BBC has already put a story online entitled “Is Japan safe for foregners?”. You don’t have to read the article as I can give you an answer here. Yes it is! It’s most likely safer than your home country (unless you live in Iceland or Scandinavia somewhere). Sure there is crime, but there is crime everywhere. I have never once felt threatened walking around in Japan, unlike numerous times back in England.