Actually, as far as I've read, the idea is that he did the rapes before, and this has led him to be killed (that and more, like drug dealing), so he decides to change and make new choices, which they are, as far as I know, to avoid the rapes and all the bad deeds he did in his previous life. All the rape and murder scenes are flashbacks from what I've read.
Personally I think the story would be more interesting being able to choose if you want the MC to follow the path of the rapist and the bad (morally) decisions, or he wants to avoid the rapes and follow a more "good" path.