Keith Wood, the man charged with being the East End rapist, cried and shook his head emphatically on the witness stand yesterday, repeating "No, I did not" "No, I did not" when asked if he raped, burglarized, robbed and terrorized five women in 2000 and 2001.

The 51-year-old from Highland Park claimed he couldn't recall where he was at the time of four of the five assaults, and said on the fifth date, his son was staying at his home overnight to celebrate his 6th birthday.

The assaults took place during an 11-month period in Swissvale, Shadyside, Edgewood, Squirrel Hill and Forest Hills. One of the victims sitting in court broke into tears, while three of the victims sat nearby.

The suspect's DNA profile established from four of the five victims' hospital rape kits matched, and police put the information in a criminal database; in the fifth case police had no DNA to work with. Years later, a sample matched Mr. Wood, who was incarcerated for violating probation, leading to his arrest.

Under cross-examination, Mr. Wood said he didn't deny that police obtained DNA from a swab of his mouth, but said he had no idea how samples taken from the victims could have matched his profile. He implied he believed that after the assaults Allegheny County police may have gone through his trash to get his DNA to frame him as the suspect.

"I know about as much as the average person about how significant DNA is in a case like this," he said.

He said he was living with his mother in Monroeville at the time of the attacks, and commuting to his job as a hair designer at Philip Pelusi on the South Side and the Monroeville store.

He said he took classes at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City. Deputy District Attorney Janet Necessary asked him whether he learned accents in acting school, since two of the victims reported their assailant had an unidentifiable accent.

He said, no, he went there to learn stage presence to improve his skills as a guitarist.

The defense then rested.

Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning scheduled closing arguments for Monday at 10 a.m.