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Winehouse autopsy proves inconclusive
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Flowers and tributes left by mourners in Camden Square, outside the house of Amy Winehouse after her death. Mitch Winehouse, Amy Winehouse’s father, greeted and thanked mourners Monday for coming to lay bouquets, messages and handwritten notes.
Associated Press
LONDON
An autopsy on singer Amy Winehouse Monday failed to determine what killed the 27-year-old star, leaving fans and family with a weeks-long wait for the results of toxicology tests.
Winehouse’s devastated parents visited mourners outside her north London home to thank them for their support, ahead of a private family funeral that will take place today.
The singer, who had struggled with drug and alcohol abuse for years, was found dead Saturday at home by a member of her security team, who called an ambulance. It arrived too late to save her.
The Metropolitan Police said Monday that a forensic post mortem “did not establish a formal cause of death and we await the results of further toxicology tests.” Those are expected to take two to four weeks.
An inquest into the singer’s death was opened and adjourned at London’s St. Pancras Coroner’s Court. During the two-minute hearing, an official read out the name, birth date and address of Winehouse, described as “a divorced lady living at Camden Square NW1.”
“She was a singer songwriter at the time of her death and was identified by her family here at St. Pancras this morning,” said coroner’s officer Sharon Duff.
Duff said the scene of Winehouse’s death “was investigated by police and determined nonsuspicious.”
In Britain, inquests are held to establish the facts whenever someone dies violently or in unexplained circumstances. Assistant Deputy Coroner Suzanne Greenaway said Winehouse’s inquest would resume Oct. 26.
The singer’s father, mother and brother visited her home on Monday, stopping to inspect the mounds of bouquets, candles and handwritten notes across the road from the Victorian house.
Her father, Mitch Winehouse, thanked mourners for their tributes.
“I can’t tell you what this means to us — it really is making this a lot easier for us,” he said.
“We’re devastated and I’m speechless but thanks for coming.”
The singer’s mother, Janis, was in tears as she examined the flowers, candles, vodka bottles, flags, drawings and handwritten cards left by neighbors, fans and well-wishers. Many of the offerings expressed the same sentiment: “What a waste.”
“I’ll remember her as a troubled soul,” said fan Ethna Rouse, who brought her 4-year-old son to leave a bouquet. “Like many artists in the world — they are tortured souls, and that’s where the talent comes from.”
The singer had battled her demons in public, too often making headlines for erratic behavior, destructive relationships and abortive performances.
Last month, Winehouse canceled her European comeback tour after she swayed and slurred her way through barely recognizable songs in her first show in the Serbian capital, Belgrade. Booed and jeered off stage, she flew home and her management said she would take time off to recover.
Her last public appearance came three days before her death, when she briefly joined her goddaughter, singer Dionne Bromfield, on stage at The Roundhouse in Camden, near her home.