New Delhi: Maninder Pal Singh Kohli last night (Jul 28, 2004) confessed to having raped and murdered 17-year-old British schoolgirl Hannah Foster.

"I abducted, raped and killed Hannah Foster," Kohli told NDTV in Kharar, Punjab.

Kohli, who had fled from Britain after committing the crime last year was arrested in Kalimpong in West Bengal on July 16 after his pictures were flashed on television, said he was confessing "because I am already too tired to run here and there".

"I want to unburden myself and tell the truth (about) what happened that night," he said.

Kohli said he had seen Hannah on the night of the murder and was not stalking her.

"I was totally drunk that night. I strangled her and killed her," he said.

However, Kohli sought to protect his brothers who were arrested for allegedly sheltering him, saying he had not told them about the nature of his crime.

Hannah Foster went missing on March 14, 2003, in Southampton, England. Her body was found after two days. Her parents Trevor and Hilary had made a fervent public appeal in Delhi on July 13 to help nab Kohli, which led to his capture.