ROCKVILLE, Md. - A Montgomery County (web|news) judge sentenced 44-year-old Anthony Kelly to three life terms plus 20 years behind bars in the brutal slayings of a 9-year-old girl and her father in August of 2002.

Kelly was sentenced to life in prison for the following charges: first degree rape, first degree rape and assault and first degree murder. The 20 year sentence, to be served consecutively, was applied to a handgun charge. In August, jurors deliberated for four hours before reaching a guilt verdict.

Erika Smith was staying with her father, Greg Russell, at his Silver Spring home on August 6, 2002 when Kelly broke in and gunned them down. Erika had been beaten, suffering as many as five blows to the head with the murder weapon. Kelly then shot her in the back. Russell was shot eight times while trying to save her.

The case had been delayed for six years until Kelly was found mentally competent to stand trial.

The victims' families were satisfied with the conviction. "I think she would be proud of what happened today," said Erika's mother, Carol Smith. "There'll never be a sense of closure, but I'm glad that justice was done on her behalf and Greg's behalf."

"We know justice has been served, and that's what we've been praying for the last six years, and we just thank God that this is over," said Russell's brother, Bennie Russell.

Kelly served as his own attorney during the trial. "We are thrilled with today's verdict," said Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy. "It has been a long journey for all of us -- a hard wait."

During the sentencing, Erika's mother stared down her daughter's killer in court. "Anthony Kelly is an animal. He needs to be in jail forever and he needs to die and I wanted him to see that I'm not afraid of him," said Smith.

"To have some sort of closure. It doesn't close it all but it lets you know he won't be able to hurt anyone again," said Russell.

Among the most heart-wrenching testimony came from Erika's childhood best friends. Overnight, their world was shattered and their sense of security and innocence was abruptly taken away. "Anthony Kelly, a rapist and murderer, has been removed permanently from the streets of Montgomery County and Maryland, and will die in jail where he belongs," said McCarthy.

In court ABC 7/NewsChannel 8's Andrea McCarren reported Kelly maintained his innocence and stared at his victims' family members without expression as they testified about their pain and suffering during the sentencing.

The case was not eligible for the death penalty because of Kelly's extensive psychiatric history.

Kelly has already been convicted of two rapes in Montgomery County. He served as his own attorney in both of those cases.