A man accused as a serial rapist is expected to head to trial next week.
Seven Action News had a team of reporters in court, closely following this case that covers eight cities across metro-Detroit.
Ikeie Smith is accused in multiple sexual assaults, home invasions and armed robberies.
His trial for the first four cases now goes to court Monday.
Smith, 32, was arrested back in September, accused in 34 crimes across eight suburbs that date back to 2011.
Nine of those cases are now going to a jury in Wayne County, being combined into two trials.
Prosecutors tell us they involve six sexual assaults, one physical assault and slew of home invasions and armed robberies. Police say they have DNA evidence that links him to seven of the cases.
His mother, Janet Freeman, who was previously appalled by the charges and disturbed with what her son is accused of, is now coming to his defense.
"He knew these women. He had relationships with these women," she says.
She also says: "They just said in court they have him on video confessing."
Police say the Redford Township man broke into homes and sexually assaulted women.
Smith chose to go to trial after the judge told him how he would be sentenced if found guilty.
Shelly Childers reports Smith's mother tells us she will be speaking with her son later tonight to get to the bottom of those confessions that he now has on the record.
