Inquest into hospital death of Serena Perry set for March
Coroner and jury will spend 2 weeks examining circumstances of death at Saint John Regional Hospital
A coroner's inquest into the death of Serena Perry at the Saint John Regional Hospital nearly two years ago has been set for March 17.
Two weeks have been set aside, chief coroner Gregory Forestell announced on Tuesday.
Perry, 22, died while she was a patient under the care of the psychiatric unit. Her body was found in the hospital's amphitheatre on Feb. 14, 2012.
Saint John Police Chief Bill Reid had requested a coroner's inquest be held after he announced in June 2013 that no charges would be laid in the case, which was being treated as a homicide.
Although police had a suspect — a male patient who was also under the care of the psychiatric unit — a forensic examination could not determine Perry's cause of death.
Presiding coroner John Evans and a jury will publicly hear evidence from subpoenaed witnesses to determine the facts surrounding Perry's death, Forestell said in a statement.
The jury will also have an opportunity to make recommendations to prevent deaths under similar circumstances, he said.
The inquest will be held at the Saint John Law Courts.