Egyptian denies rape, murder of Chinese prostitute in Paris

An Egyptian man denied the rape and murder of a Chinese prostitute but admitted hitting her, as his trial started in Paris.

Tarek Shaban bin Ziaed told the Paris court: "I hit her" but "no, I didn't kill this woman."

"Things went well between us. But at the end, I got angry with her so I hit her and took back my money, then I left," said the suspect, speaking in hesitant French via a translator.

He is accused of raping and murdering 56-year-old Yuan'e Hu, whose naked body was found in August 2012 in the Paris apartment she shared with other prostitutes.

Ziaed was arrested on the basis of photos taken from video surveillance footage that showed him entering the apartment in the company of the woman and leaving 30 minutes later.

The court heard how he had told police he did not know her, then admitted sexual relations with her and finally confessed to her murder.