SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A published report says the prosecution and defense of a southwestern Illinois man sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for strangling his wife and their two sons has cost a state fund almost half a million dollars.

The state’s Capital Litigation Trust Fund was established after Illinois’ death penalty moratorium was imposed to ensure death-penalty defendants had access to competent counsel.

Illinois abolished the death penalty earlier this year, so the fund will end effective July 1.

The preliminary total in the case of Christopher Coleman is $494,450 according to payment vouchers released by the Illinois treasurer’s office. Not all fees have been added in yet.

Coleman was convicted last week by a jury on three counts of first-degree murder.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press