The investigation into the death of singer Amy Winehouse may have to be repeated after the coroner who oversaw the inquest resigned over questions about her qualifications.
The coroner who oversaw the investigation into Amy Winehouse‘s death has resigned, leading to questions about whether the investigation should be held again.
Suzanne Greenaway stepped down recently, after it was revealed she did not meet the necessary requirements to practice in the U.K. In 2009, Greenaway, an Australian-born attorney, was appointed a coroner in London by her husband, Andrew Reid.
She resigned in November 2011 after it was discovered she hadn’t been registered as a lawyer across the pond for five years as required by law. She had practiced law for a decade in her native Sydney.
Winehouse, 27, was found dead in her Cambridge apartment last July. Greenaway’s inquest into her death ultimately concluded that the Grammy winner was five times the legal alcohol limit at the time of her death.
The “Me and Mr. Jones” star succumbed to alcohol poisoning, Greenaway ruled.
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Amy gave up drinking for two weeks, but restarted on the Wednesday before her death on July 23 — the day she joined goddaughter Dionne Bromfield on stage at the iTunes Festival in London.
“She had consumed sufficient alcohol at 416mg per decilitre [of blood] and the unintended consequence of such potentially fatal levels was her sudden and unexpected death,” Greenaway said at a hearing in October.
Before her resignation, Greenaway oversaw 30 autopsies, including Winehouse’s. Every one of those inquests could be declared illegal if challenged in court by the families of the deceased.
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In a statement released to the media, Winehouse’s family said, “The Winehouse family is taking advice on the implications of this and will decide if any further discussion with the authorities is needed.”
Reid is being investigated by the Office for Judicial Complaints. He now acknowledges that promoting his own wife — particularly when she doesn’t tout the requirements necessary for the position — may have been a mistake.
“In November it became apparent I’d made an error in the appointment process,” the shamed official said in a press release Wednesday.
“While I am confident that all of the inquests handled were done so correctly, I apologize if this matter causes distress to the families and friends of the deceased. I will be writing to the families affected to personally apologize and offer for their cases to be reheard if requested.”
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