An accused serial killer in northeastern China's Liaoning province confessed to killing up to 45 people and deserves to be sentenced to death for his lack of remorse, his lawyer said on Thursday.

Wang Qiang (30) confessed during a two-day hearing that ended on Thursday at the Shenyang Intermediate People's Court in the provincial capital of Liaoning, Li Changren said.

"Wang Qiang has confessed to most of the crimes. He has confessed but he hasn't shown any remorse," Li told AFP.

Prosecutors have charged him with 45 murders in 34 cases and an additional eight counts of rape in separate cases, Li said.

"He did not confess to the rapes, but his crimes are so many that maybe he couldn't recall them."

He is also charged with robbing his victims of about 30 000 yuan ($3600) worth of cash and goods,

The trial was not open to the public as it involved the rape charges, the court said earlier.

The case has drawn wide attention throughout China.