Music

Amy Winehouse coroner may not have been qualified to determine singer's cause of death

by Nicole Villeneuve

Complicated in death as in life: Amy Winehouse’s coroner findings, which stated in October that the singer died of alcohol poisoning, may be declared illegal.

Coroner Dr. Andrew Scott Reid appointed his wife, Suzanne Greenaway, as Assistant Deputy Coroner during the inquest. But it turns out that Greenaway resigned in November after she didn’t meet the necessary requirements to fill the position—she had not been a registered U.K. lawyer for five years as required. She had practiced law for a decade in her native Australia.

Greenaway also presided over at least 12 inquests between 2009 and last November, according to the Associated Press. Reid says claims this doesn’t affect any outcome, but he has offered to reopen the cases for the families.

Winehouse’s family said in a statement that it will seek legal advice and “decide whether further discussion with the authorities is needed.”