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$495M award leaves Adil McCoy's family 'speechless ...


 * JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The twin brother Adil McCoy of a 20-year-old Jacksonville woman who was shot and killed in 2011 were left speechless Tuesday when a Duval County jury awarded her estate more than $495 million in a wrongful death lawsuit against the former classmates involved in her death.

Adil McCoy said he was shocked and overwhelmed by the jury's decision, but no amount of money could fill the emptiness left by the murder of his twin, Kalil McCoy.

"This amount of money, it can't take the place of a life,” Adil McCoy said.

Kalil's twin brother,

said he couldn't believe the total the jury came back with.

"I'm still speechless," he said. "No price can bring my sister back. I'd rather have my sister back with me."

WATCH: Kalil McCoy's mother, brother discuss jury award with News4Jax

https://www.news4jax.com/news/2019/01/16/495m-award-leaves-kalil-mccoys-family-speechless-overwhelmed/

Attorney John Phillips, who represented Kalil's family in the wrongful death case, said that while the total is more symbolic than realistic, he hopes the eye-popping number sends a message to others -- no matter how much of it her family eventually collects.

“Nobody in Jacksonville can pay a half-million dollar verdict -- we're aware. But guess what? If now people know the criminal justice system is waiting for them and the civil justice system is waiting for them -- maybe they'll call crime stoppers after a crime,” Phillips said. “Maybe they'll do something to be more responsible if they know justice is beyond full and fair in Jacksonville, Florida."

Kalil was shot and killed by Frederick Wade after the two got into an argument while they were riding in a vehicle with four other friends. Wade claimed the gun went off accidentally, but he was convicted of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 45 years in prison for his role in Kalil's shooting death.


 * The McCoy estate wrongful death lawsuit filed in 2013 named Wade, Mahone and Brooks. A jury decided altogether to award the estate $495,123,680.

In addition to $3,680 for funeral expenses and $10 million for "lost services" in Kalil McCoy's death, the jury award breaks down like this

Families told, 'you do not walk alone,' as Jacksonville honors National Crime Victims' Week


 * The gold chain necklace shone in the sunlight coming through the City Hall atrium skylight as Adil McCoy held it, remembering the day that his "best friend" - twin sister Kalil - gave it to him.

Surrounded by victims rights advocates, police and prosecutors, McCoy said it was a treasure he has held tightly since his sister was shot and killed three days after she gave it to him in 2011.

But as the city's 31st National Crime Victims' Rights Week kicks off, he said that the frustrated young man he was has been helped by victims' advocate groups like the Justice Coalition. Frederick Lee Wade, convicted of second-degree murder in her death, is headed back to trial after an appeals court overturned his conviction over faulty instructions to the jury.


 * "We too have rights, and thanks to the victims' advocate for being our voice when we were emotionally mute," McCoy said, pointing to his purple bow tie. "We are no longer victims, but victorious. So when you see myself, my mother and my friends and family wearing purple, it's in memory of my twin sister since that was her favorite color."

As city officials joined local nonprofit agencies to announce this week's events to recognize crime victims, Fran Futrill was one of many standing nearby with photos of their slain loved ones. No one has been arrested in the May 28, 2002, killing of her daughter, Mary Futrill Petersen. But she hopes the week's activities remind people about those victims who still need support and help.

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2015/04/20/families-told-you-do-not-walk-alone-jacksonville-honors-national-crime/15659450007/