A Rwandan man pleaded guilty to the murder of 14 women and burying them in his kitchen.
Denis Kazungu, 34, has been charged with murder, rape, forgery, impersonation, and degradation of human bodies.
At a crowded court session in Kigali, Kazungu answered "yes" when the judge inquired if the prosecution's charges against him were true.
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"Those who I killed had infected me with HIV," Kazungu explained as he was led to the court in handcuffs that were eventually removed.
Kazungu was apprehended earlier this month after police discovered 12 remains, the majority of which were women, in a hole in the kitchen of his rented home in a Kigali neighborhood where he lived alone.
"In his statement, Kazungu admitted that although 12 bodies were found in the hole, he had actually killed 14 people and had dissolved two of his victims," a prosecutor told the court, adding that the two other victims had not yet been found.
According to the prosecution, several victims could flee and submit information to authorities about the assaults.
On the other hand, the judge stated that the matter would continue to be heard in public. At a hearing on September 26, the court is expected to rule on bail.
Kazungu was arrested in July on suspicion of robbery and rape, among other charges, but was released on bond owing to a lack of evidence.
When the suspect was apprehended in early September, a police source told AFP that he had confessed to killing his victims, most of whom were sex workers, after watching films about prominent serial murderers.
