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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels

Trial this week for accused prostitute rapist

Pierre West enters court in May 2009 to face charges of first-degree kidnapping, rape and assault for attacks on prostitutes that date to 2005.  (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
Pierre West enters court in May 2009 to face charges of first-degree kidnapping, rape and assault for attacks on prostitutes that date to 2005. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)

Jury selection is set to begin today for the second trial of a convicted sex offender accused of raping prostitutes.

Pierre D. West, 49, was convicted of two counts of second-degree rape, three counts of unlawful imprisonment, three counts of felony harassment and two counts of second-degree assault after a trial in May.

Those convictions were overturned in July after a juror acknowledged she knew West but had claimed otherwise during the selection process.

Opening statements in West's second trial are expected this week before Judge Michael Price.

West has been in Spokane County Jail since his arrest in August 2007 on 15 felony counts after prostitutes claimed he'd terrorized them for years.

West acknowledged hiring prostitutes and enjoying rough sex, investigators said.

Past coverage:

Man convicted of raping prostitutes will get new trial

Jury convicts man of raping prostitutes

Trial begins for man accused of assaulting prostitutes

Valley man charged in rapes of 5 women



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