Hawker's slaying 'brought shame' on Japan, dad says

The killing of a British woman whose naked and battered body was found in Chiba Prefecture has "brought shame" to Japan, her father said Sunday, as the British ambassador urged the public to help the police investigation.

"My daughter loved this country. She loved meeting Japanese people and thought of Japan as an honorable society," William Hawker said in a statement read out by British Ambassador to Japan Graham Fry.

"My daughter's killer has now brought shame on your country. He must be caught," Hawker was quoted as saying.

The ambassador appealed to the public to aid police in the case.

"Lindsay's tragic death has saddened and shocked us all," he said in Tokyo. "Anyone who can help, please, please come forward."

Police were still hunting for the prime suspect, Tatsuya Ichihashi, 28, the resident of an apartment in the city of Ichikawa, where Lindsay Ann Hawker's body was found March 26, buried in a sand-filled bathtub.

An autopsy conducted Wednesday determined that Hawker, 22, was suffocated and was beaten several times. Police have refused to comment on whether the English-language teacher had been sexually assaulted.

The suspect first approached Hawker near a train station March 21, saying he wanted to learn English, and followed her to her apartment, according to police. Hawker let him in because she had a roommate and he seemed eager to learn.

He drew a picture of Hawker and wrote down his name and phone number before leaving her apartment. She agreed to give him an English lesson the following Sunday.