Supporters told not to wear T-shirts bearing victim’s photo

Justin Murrins’ family members sat in the back of the courtroom Friday morning, as the case of the man charged in connection with his death was called.

At least one of Murrins’ loved ones wore a T-shirt emblazed with his picture on the front, his name on the back.

Murrins, 27, was a passenger in a Corvette said to have been driven by Brandon Quilty on May 17, 2017. The car was headed west on Blackhead Road, towards Shea Heights, when it crashed, ending up on its roof. Murrins was taken to hospital and died of his injuries two days later.

“Justin will forever live on in the many organ recipients whose lives he selflessly saved,” Murrins’ family wrote in his obituary, describing him as loyal, big-hearted and a free spirit.

Quilty, now 23, was also taken to hospital from the scene with serious injuries. He was later charged with dangerous driving in connection with the crash.

Appearing on behalf of Quilty in provincial court in St. John’s Friday, lawyer Erin Breen said she recognized the tragic nature of the case, but pointed out to Judge Paul Noble there were people in the courtroom wearing shirts bearing Murrins’ photo.

It’s an issue that comes up often in provincial court, with judges generally ordering people in the courtroom not to bring photos of their loved one or to cover up their shirts.

Supporters of five-year-old Quinn Butt, whose father Trent Butt will soon be tried for firstdegree murder for her 2016 death, were ordered not to wear their specially designed pink T-shirts or bring posters into the courtroom. Family members of Clifford Comerford, who died of stabbing injuries in 2015, were ordered to remove their “Justice for Cliffie” shirts during proceedings for Ray Stacey, who was later acquitted of murdering him. The families of Alyssa Davis, 17, and Hannah Thorne, 18 — who were killed in vehicle crashes on 2015 and 2016, respectively — were told to cover up shirts and leave framed photos outside the courtroom when they attended court proceedings. Drivers were eventually convicted in relation to both deaths.

Earlier this year, supporters of tattoo artist Ken Power, who was charged and later convicted of harassing a man he said had raped his friend, were told by a judge to cover their shirts or leave the courtroom. The shirts bore a cartoon likeness of Power.

It’s an issue of keeping court proceedings neutral.

“As much as I understand the tragic circumstances, people should not be trying to influence the court with displays of a person’s likeness,” Noble said Friday.

He acknowledged the shirts bearing Murrins’ photo were not visible from his position at the bench.

Quilty’s court case was postponed to allow Breen time to receive the rest of the disclosure materials. It will be called again April 30.