Investigation into Amy Winehouse’s case may start all over again as Coroner resigns

The investigations into Amy Winehouse’s case have been pushed into a state of turmoil as the coroner who over saw the original hearing, resigned after being declared unqualified. Family of the deceased singer is being asked if they want another inquest into the case.

The Camden Council said that Dr. Andrew Reid made an error in good faith, when he decided to appoint his wife he hear the case, meanwhile the Britain’s Office for Juridical Complaints is looking into the matter. Apologizing to Winehouse’s family for causing distress, Coroner Dr. Andrew Reid said that he’s confident that the inquest was handled correctly; however, he said, “I will be writing to the families affected to…offer for their cases to be reheard.”

Suzanne Greenaway, the coroner who gave the verdict in October 2011, that Winehouse’s death was caused by accidental alcohol poisoning, resigned after the authorities learned that she was not a registered lawyer for five years, as was the requirement in the United Kingdoms. This means that the verdict of the cases carried out by Greenaway including Amy Winehouse’s, could be challenged in the High Court. Though Greenaway had resigned in November, the news was not made public until now.

Greenaway was a practicing lawyer for 10 years, while she lived in her native country, Australia and was now a deputy assistant coroner in UK. Though Reid made a breach of professional guidelines, he did not break any law while appointing his wife. "I believed at the time that her experience as a solicitor and barrister in Australia satisfied the requirements of the post," Reid said explaining his actions. "In November of last year it became apparent that I had made an error in the appointment process and I accepted her resignation.”

While the Winehouse family is seeking legal advice on the implications of this and fully understand that the inquest could be declared invalid if they challenge the verdict in court, Mitch Winehouse, Amy father, tweeted no Wednesday saying, "don't worry about coroner nonsense. We are all OK."

Though Winehouse had won millions of hearts through her singing style, her praises were almost always overshadowed by her destructive relationships and erratic behavior. The inquest included evidence form a pathologist, her doctor and a security guard who found three empty vodka bottles in her room. Her family thinks that challenging the verdict and filing for a second inquest will most likely turn out the same conclusion about her death.