Funeral for murdered English teacher

Apr 26 2007

MOURNERS are due to gather in Coventry today for the funeral of a British teacher found murdered in a Tokyo apartment.

The service in memory of 22-year-old Lindsay Ann Hawker, who was found strangled in the Japanese capital in March, will take place at Coventry Cathedral this afternoon.

The funeral, described as a celebration and thanksgiving for her life, will be conducted by the Reverend Tim Pullen, of St Margaret's Church in Wolston, near Rugby.

It will be followed by a private burial.

In a statement, Mr Pullen said: "As the local vicar, I have been in contact with Lindsay's family since shortly after the news broke of her murder.

"This is a devastating loss for Lindsay's family and my main role has been to offer some support to them in beginning to come to terms with her death; listening, talking and praying with them."

In a separate statement, the Very Reverend John Irvine, Dean of Coventry, said: "From a practical point of view, given the number of people expected to want to attend this funeral, the cathedral was the obvious venue and we are very pleased to be able to support the Hawker family, Mr Garside, and Lindsay's wide circle of friends in this way."

An inquest into the death of the English language teacher - whose family live in Brandon, Warwickshire - was opened and adjourned by the county's coroner earlier this month.

CCTV images released by Japanese police showed Miss Hawker chatting to the prime suspect in the investigation, 28-year-old Tatsuya Ichihashi, who fled from the apartment where her body was found.

Ichihashi is believed to have approached Miss Hawker, who worked for a language school, about private English lessons after following her home from a railway station.