British woman's body found on balcony near Tokyo

TOKYO, Mar 27 (Reuters) Japanese police found the body of a 22-year-old British woman in a bathtub full of sand on an apartment balcony near Tokyo, a police spokesman said today.

Police in Ichikawa, east of Tokyo, identified the body found late last night as that of Lindsey Ann Hawker, who worked at a language school, he said.

A 28-year-old Japanese man who lived in the apartment fled when police arrived and is now sought in connection with Hawker's death. Domestic media said the man was known to the victim.

A British woman who lived with Hawker was reported to have called the police yesterday afternoon to tell them that the woman had not come home and had not been reachable by mobile phone.

''We can confirm that a British national is missing -- an English teacher -- and as you know the Japanese police have discovered a body,'' a British Embassy spokesman said. ''Beyond that we cannot comment.'' The case comes about a month before a verdict is due in the trial of a wealthy Japanese businessman accused of killing British woman Lucie Blackman in 2000.

Police found Blackman's mutilated body buried in a seaside cave near the condominium of the businessman, who has denied the charges against him.

REUTERS DKA RK1500