A second inquest into the death of renowned singer Amy Winehouse has concluded that she passed away due to excessive alcohol consumption.
The 27-year-old artist was discovered lifeless at her residence in Camden, north London, back in 2011.
This latest ruling mirrors the initial inquest, which had to be revisited after the deputy coroner was deemed inadequately qualified for the task.
The deputy coroner, appointed by Winehouse’s husband who serves as the senior coroner for inner north London, lacked the necessary legal credentials for the role.
Dr. Shirley Radcliffe, the St Pancras Coroner, reiterated a verdict of misadventure, echoing the findings of the original inquest from October 2011.
The proceedings featured familiar evidence presented during the first inquiry.
During the session, it was disclosed that Winehouse’s blood alcohol content at the time of her demise was more than five times the legal limit for driving, measuring 416mg per 100 millilitres of blood, far exceeding the legal threshold of 80mg.
Dr. Radcliffe attributed Winehouse’s passing to “alcohol toxicity,” emphasizing that the level of alcohol found in her system was typically linked to fatal outcomes.
The investigation revealed that the singer had willingly consumed alcohol, with two empty vodka bottles discovered near her bed upon the grim discovery of her body.
In a statement provided by Winehouse’s general practitioner, Dr. Christina Romete, it was disclosed that the night before her demise, the singer expressed a desire not to perish.
Dr. Romete also highlighted Winehouse’s reluctance to adhere to medical advice, opting to chart her own course.
Furthermore, the physician’s statement unveiled Winehouse’s battle with an eating disorder characterized by self-induced vomiting.
In another written testimony, Andrew Morris, Winehouse’s live-in security guard, recounted the emotional moment he realized the tragic loss, describing the singer as akin to a sibling to him.
Detective Inspector Les Newman confirmed that no suspicious circumstances surrounded Winehouse’s death.
The post-mortem examination pinpointed alcohol toxicity as the cause of death, likely culminating in respiratory failure.
The necessity for a repeat inquest stemmed from revelations that Suzanne Greenaway, the initial inquest overseer, lacked the requisite qualifications for the position.
Greenaway, appointed in 2009 by her spouse, Andrew Reid, following legal practice in Australia, resigned in 2011 upon the revelation of her insufficient experience as mandated by the Law Society.
Dr. Reid relinquished his post recently after facing disciplinary action initiated by the Office for Judicial Complaints due to these oversights.
Subsequent inquests presided over by Ms. Greenaway have undergone reexamination in light of these developments.
