LINDSAY ANN HAWKERwho has died aged 22 was a graduate of Leeds University, who in 2006 travelled to Japan to work as an English teacher. Enjoying the ex- pat lifestyle, she lived with flatmates in the suburb of Nishi-Funabashi in TokyoIn March 2007 Ms Hawker was reported missing after disappearing from her home. Her body was later discovered in an apartment in the Ichikawa district of Tokyo. Tests revealed Ms Hawker had been murdered and inquiries remain ongoing in the search for a named suspect.Ms Hawker arrived in Japan after signing up to be a teacher with the Koiwa International language school run by the Nova organisation. It had gained a trusted reputation in the UK and worldwide and trusting her instincts she took up a teaching position in October 2006.Tributes have since been paid in Coventry by family and friends who described Ms Hawker as “a lovely girl who would have helped anybody”Lindsay Ann Hawker was born on 30 December, 1984. She grew up in Warwickshire along with her parents Bill and Julie Hawker and two sisters Lisa, 25 and Louise 20.After attending King Henry VIII Secondary School in Coventry, Ms Hawker went to university in Leeds where she met her boyfriend Ryan Garside and graduated with a first class degree in biology.The family had got together in Japan at the end of 2006, to celebrate her 22nd birthday, and her parents met her for the last time two weeks prior to her death.Ms Hawker had set up an account on a social networking site in order to keep in touch with family back home. They last heard from her on 20 March 2007.Six days later, police officers arrived at the flat of a man who had been seen with Ms hawker, but he escaped down a fire escape. He has not been seen since.Pictures and CCTV footage of the suspect have been broadcast on newscasts in Japan in the hope of apprehending him.UK Police Officers are now in Japan assisting with the search and 3,000 wanted posters have been distributed around Tokyo.Lindsay’s father Bill and her long term boyfriend Ryan Garside also travelled to Japan to raise awareness of the case holding a press conference where Sir Graham Fry, British Ambassador to Japan read out a statement on the family’s behalfThe family remain hopeful that the Gyotoku police force will catch Ms Hawker’s killer.Up to date details of the case are published on a special website and UK media companies including the BBC have shown their support.A coroner’s inquest, held back in the UK, was opened and then adjourned. Ms Hawker's funeral and memorial service was held on 26 April, 2007 at Coventry Cathedral in the heart of the city.The service was held by Reverend Tim Pullen and Ms Hawker's coffin was carried into building covered in white lilies. The funeral was also attended by the Japanese Ambassador Yoshiji Nogami before family members paid their final respects to Ms Hawker at a private burial.
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