ST. LOUIS • A man who ignored his young son's pleas before killing the child's mother and her brother was sentenced Friday to multiple life terms in prison.

At Melvin R. Patton's trial in December, jurors heard the boy's version: "I said, 'Daddy, please don't kill my Mommy.' He went, 'Pow, Pow, Pow,'" the child recalled in a recorded interview played in court. He had not been wounded.

Prosecutors said that around 3:45 a.m. on April 21, 2010, Patton entered the home of Keneka Elliott, 24, in the 3800 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, and went to the bedroom where she, her son and a 28-year-old female friend were sleeping.

Patton shot Elliott three times and also wounded her friend, who still has a bullet lodged in her head, officials said.

On the way out, Patton shot Elliott's brother, Julius Elliott, 29, at least four times, including one execution-style shot to the back of the head, prosecutors said. Julius Elliott was sleeping in the living room.

Patton's son and Keneka Elliott's wounded friend both identified him in court as the gunman.

Keneka Elliott's 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son from another relationship also were home but unhurt; her 8-month-old son was with other family that night. Assistant Circuit Attorney Christine Krug said last year that the children are now spread among separate family members.

In closing arguments, Patton's lawyer, Daniel Rousseau, tried to cast doubt on the eyewitness identification. The shooter was wearing all black and his face was concealed. The murder weapon was never found.

But an accused drug user who shared a holding cell with Patton told police he heard Patton's confession.

Patton, of the 3000 block of Texas Avenue, had clashed with Keneka Elliott for years over his access to the boy. During the trial, relatives said that Patton sent a text at one point that said, "I'll kill anyone to get my son."

Keneka Elliott had cooperated with prosecutors in an earlier trial for Patton on charges of kidnapping, burglary, domestic assault and a weapon violation. He was acquitted that time.

In court Friday, St. Louis Circuit Judge David Dowd ordered Patton to prison for two consecutive terms of life without parole, one for each of the first-degree murders, as well as four concurrent life terms for assault and armed criminal action charges and 15 years on a burglary charge.

Robert Patrick of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.