Accused 'really sorry' for killing Hawker

Tatsuya Ichihashi, in court in Chiba, admitted raping the 22-year-old and causing her death but claimed he did not intend to kill her.

Hawker, 22, was found in a sand-filled bath on the balcony of his Tokyo apartment more than four years ago.

"I had no intention of murder but I'm responsible for the death of Ms Lindsay," Ichihashi said in court. I'm the one who scared her and left her dead. I'm really, really sorry."

Ichihashi, who had been one of the teacher's students at an English language school - then went on the run and was in hiding for more than two years.

He used false identities to evade police and even underwent cosmetic surgery to avoid detection but was eventually arrested in 2009. 

Hawker’s parents, Bill and Julia, and their daughters Lisa, 29, and Louise, 24, are all in Japan for the trial.

Ichihashi, 32, had already admitted to taking Hawker's life in a book he wrote from prison called "Until the Arrest."

But he has not described the crime or his motives, instead detailing his life at large, during which he travelled throughout the country in constant fear of arrest and obsessed about plastic surgery.

He even admits attempting cosmetic procedures himself with scissors.

Ichihashi was eventually stopped in November 2009 by police at the ferry terminal in the western city of Osaka.

During the trial, Mr and Mrs Hawker, of Brandon, near Coventry, Warwickshire, will be classed as "victim participants".

They will be able, at the discretion of the court, to question the defendant and give their opinion on sentencing and could also ask to examine the prosecution evidence.

The verdict is due on 21 July, and if convicted, Ichihashi could face the death penalty.