The inquest into the death of Serena Perry heard testimony Friday about a young male patient she befriended while they were both in the psychiatric unit of the Saint John Regional Hospital.

Perry, 22, was found dead in the hospital’s amphitheatre on Feb. 14, 2012. According to hospital records, she was found on her back with a bathrobe tied loosely around her neck.

A surveillance video showed Perry heading into the hospital amphitheatre with the male patient, who cannot be identified because of a publication ban.

During the inquest, a number of employees were asked for their impression of that patient, with one nurse calling him “sneaky.”

“I got bad vibes from him. Something about him rubbed me the wrong way,” said Ashley Fox, a licensed practical nurse. “I haven’t had any other experience like that since I worked there.”

Fox also said the patient had a history of involvement with witchcraft and animal sacrifice.

The inquest also heard from a former patient who saw the man and Perry leave the unit together. He said he saw a change in the patient after he returned to the unit alone.

“He got more anxious, very unnerved,” he said. “There was an escalation in his mood. He was more agitated after he came back.”

At least two nurses testified this week that they would like to see a security guard at the entrance to the psychiatric unit in the event of an aggressive or violent patient.

Perry’s family says they support that idea.

“Because there are some patients up there that are aggressive and are angry and we heard from a few nurses who are scared and I can’t imagine working up there without no male or a security [guard],” says Perry’s sister, Tasha King.

“I think a security guard working up there with the sign-out and sign-in sheets would be awesome.”

The security manager for the Saint John Regional Hospital was questioned about the idea, but Lianne Jordan told the jury she didn’t think it would be necessary to have a full-time security guard posted at the psychiatric unit considering that security measures have already been upgraded.

The inquest also heard from Const. Tanya Lawlor, a forensics officer who worked on the case. Lawlor is expected to take the stand again next week when the inquest resumes.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Mike Cameron