Man confesses on television that he raped and murdered a 4-year-old girl in Turkey

Himmet Akturk had agreed to appear on a Turkish television programme which specialises in investigating family dramas. Photo / ATV

WARNING: Disturbing content

A man has confessed to murdering and raping a 4-year-old girl - under questioning by a television host.

Himmet Akturk had agreed to appear on a Turkish television programme that specialises in investigating family dramas.

Presenter Muge Anli was looking into the disappearance of Irmak Kupal, 4, who went missing while playing outside her home in the Alasehir district of western Turkey's Manisa Province, the Daily Mail reports.

Anli piled the pressure on Akturk on the show and the suspect finally broke down and admitted being responsibility for her death.

He was immediately arrested and taken in for questioning where he allegedly made a full confession.

Akturk reportedly told police that he raped Irmak, strangled her and then buried her body.

He said he put her body in a sack, stashed it underneath his wheelbarrow and dropped it off in a public bin.

But when he realised the dumpster had not been emptied the following day, he retrieved the body and buried it in a nearby vineyard.

Police started digging in the area where he said he had disposed of her body and found her remains two days later.

Video captured the moment Himmet Akturk (right) confessed to murdering and raping a 4-year-old girl - under questioning by television host Muge Anli (left). Photo / ATV

Officers working with police dogs also found hair and blood, believed to be from the girl, at Artuk's home.

The footage was part of his court case where he was convicted but a further hearing will now be held to determine sentencing.

Local Mayor Gokhan Karabocan said people had been shocked by the case, adding: "This is a very bad incident for Alasehir. I can't even call human the person who did this."

Police launched a wide-ranging search for Irmak when she went missing but called it off when it was revealed that a genetic foot condition meant she could not walk far.

The investigation then switched to a suspected kidnapping and her heartbroken family approaching presenter Anli to ask her to investigate the case on her TV programme.

Her show specialises in investigating family dramas by inviting everyone connected to a case to the studio for questioning by the presenter.