5 jurors selected for Serena Perry inquest

Five jurors have been selected for a coroner's inquest into the death of Serena Perry at the Saint John Regional Hospital more than three years ago.

Jury selection was held on Friday. The public inquest is expected to start on Monday at the Saint John Law Courts building. Three weeks have been set aside.

Perry, 22, was under the care of the psychiatric unit when her body was discovered on Feb. 14, 2012, in the hospital's amphitheatre, which is located in another section of the facility.

Presiding coroner John Evans and a jury will hear evidence from subpoenaed witnesses in order to determine the facts surrounding Perry's death.

At least 50 witnesses, including 29 Horizon Health Network doctors and staff, and Saint John police officers, are expected to testify.

A Court of Queen's Bench judge also issued an order, granting the coroner access to the confidential mental health records of Perry and two unnamed male patients, who were seen with her before she died.

A videotaped police statement by one of those patients, who had been considered a suspect, is expected to be played.

Perry's mother, Rose Perry, says the inquest will be difficult, but it's important for the family to have answers.

"It took too long. Three years I've been waiting for this," she said. "All I want is the truth to come out."

John Gillis, who is representing the family, said he trusts in the inquest process and hopes it will shed some light on the mental health care system.

"Civilization as a whole has realized that those who have mental illness need special protections and that's really what will hopefully come out from this," said Gillis.

"There needs to be protections in place for them."

John Barry, who is representing the hospital and Horizon Health, says the inquest will show the difficult task mental health workers are faced with.

"The security issues and the human rights factors of mental health patients — and where is that balance to be drawn? We're not in the dark ages, nor can we lock people away."

Retired Crown prosecutor P.J. Veniot will act as counsel to the coroner.

The New Brunswick Coroner Service is an independent fact-finding agency and does not make any findings of legal responsibility.

But the jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths.

Former Saint John police chief Bill Reid had requested the inquest 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 forensic examination could not determine the cause of her death, police said.

The chief had previously questioned why hospital staff did not call 911 until about an hour after Perry's body was found.

Hospital officials said at the time the delay was normal for a death in a hospital setting as medical professionals attempt to revive the person.