Smiles and a few tears outside of the Saint John law courts from the family of Serena Perry after the five-person coroner’s inquest jury delivered its verdict: the 22-year-old woman died from asphyxia due to strangulation and that her death was a homicide.
Serena Perry was a psychiatric patient at the hospital in February of 2012 when her body was found in the hospital amphitheatre.
The jury also making 11 recommendations including that advocating for community treatment orders in New Brunswick, enhancing the patient information system, specialized training for security staff dealing with any incidents involving patients, and spot checks of patients so they don’t have anything that could hurt anyone when they come back to the ward.
Serena Perry’s sister, Tasha King, says she won’t stop fighting. King says this is just piece of puzzle that may be enough for the government and police to re-open Perry’s file so criminal charges can be laid, “so it doesnt happen to family ever again. I wouldn’t wish this on anybody.”
The inquest itself took 12 days in total with nurses, psychiatrists, police officers, and more taking the witness stand to testify. The jury deliberations took around four hours.
