Japanese man admits killing British teacher

A JAPANESE man accused of raping and murdering British teacher Lindsay Ann Hawker, whose battered body was found in a sand-filled bathtub, has admitted the killing, but said it was accidental.

Tatsuya Ichihashi, 32 — who spent more than two and a half years on the run after the 2007 crime and underwent plastic surgery to evade capture — also admitted to raping Hawker, who was his English teacher, media reports said.

“I had no intention of murder, but I’m responsible for the death of Ms Lindsay,” Ichihashi said on his first day in court, Jiji Press reported. “I’m the one who scared her and left her dead. I’m really, really sorry.”