Tatsuya Ichihashi pleaded not guilty Monday to premeditated murder in the 2007 slaying of Briton Lindsay Ann Hawker, 22, although he admitted raping her and hiding her corpse on his apartment balcony.

"I did not intend to murder Lindsay, but I am responsible for her death, and I intend to take the blame for it," Ichihashi said as he entered his plea at the start of his Chiba District Court lay judge trial.

"I was the one who raped Lindsay. I was the one who put her through a scary experience and took her life," the defendant said. "I am very, very sorry."