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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Amy Winehouse coroner 'not qualified' | Amy Winehouse coroner 'not qualified' |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| The family of singer Amy Winehouse have said they are "taking advice" following news that the coroner who oversaw her inquest has resigned. | The family of singer Amy Winehouse have said they are "taking advice" following news that the coroner who oversaw her inquest has resigned. |
| Camden Council has confirmed that Suzanne Greenaway had stood down because she had not been a lawyer in the UK for the required five years. | Camden Council has confirmed that Suzanne Greenaway had stood down because she had not been a lawyer in the UK for the required five years. |
| The council said she had been appointed "in error" by her husband Andrew Reid, the coroner for inner north London. | The council said she had been appointed "in error" by her husband Andrew Reid, the coroner for inner north London. |
| Ms Greenaway ruled that Winehouse, 27, died from accidental alcohol poisoning. | Ms Greenaway ruled that Winehouse, 27, died from accidental alcohol poisoning. |
| She returned a verdict of misadventure. | She returned a verdict of misadventure. |
| The Office for Judicial Complaints has begun an inquiry into Dr Reid's conduct. | The Office for Judicial Complaints has begun an inquiry into Dr Reid's conduct. |
| Letter of apology | Letter of apology |
| In a statement, Winehouse's relatives said: "The Winehouse family is taking advice on the implications of this and will decide if any further discussion with the authorities is needed." | In a statement, Winehouse's relatives said: "The Winehouse family is taking advice on the implications of this and will decide if any further discussion with the authorities is needed." |
| Ms Greenaway qualified in Australia in 1999 in September and was a member of the Supreme Court there but she had not worked as a lawyer for the required time in the UK, a Camden Council spokesman said. | Ms Greenaway qualified in Australia in 1999 in September and was a member of the Supreme Court there but she had not worked as a lawyer for the required time in the UK, a Camden Council spokesman said. |
| The spokesman added that the Winehouse inquest verdict remained legal and would only be judged illegal if it was challenged and subsequently overturned by the High Court. | The spokesman added that the Winehouse inquest verdict remained legal and would only be judged illegal if it was challenged and subsequently overturned by the High Court. |
| Dr Reid said he was writing to all of the families affected to apologise. | Dr Reid said he was writing to all of the families affected to apologise. |
| He said: "While I am confident that all of the inquests handled were done so correctly, I apologise if this matter causes distress to the families and friends of the deceased." | He said: "While I am confident that all of the inquests handled were done so correctly, I apologise if this matter causes distress to the families and friends of the deceased." |
| He has offered to hold the inquests over again if the families of the deceased request it. | He has offered to hold the inquests over again if the families of the deceased request it. |
| During her time as deputy assistant coroner, Ms Greenaway conducted 12 inquests in Camden, but mainly worked from Poplar Coroner's Court. | During her time as deputy assistant coroner, Ms Greenaway conducted 12 inquests in Camden, but mainly worked from Poplar Coroner's Court. |
| Coroners are appointed by the Ministry of Justice, and they then interview and appoint their own staff - including in the case of Dr Reid - his assistant deputy coroner. | |
| Under the Coroners Act, he must then notify the local authority although it has no power of scrutiny over appointments, a Camden Council spokesman said. | Under the Coroners Act, he must then notify the local authority although it has no power of scrutiny over appointments, a Camden Council spokesman said. |
| The inquest into Winehouse's death heard she was more than five times the drink-drive limit when she died on 23 July. | The inquest into Winehouse's death heard she was more than five times the drink-drive limit when she died on 23 July. |
| Ms Greenway had said the "unintended consequence" of Winehouse drinking so much alcohol was her "sudden and unexpected death". | Ms Greenway had said the "unintended consequence" of Winehouse drinking so much alcohol was her "sudden and unexpected death". |
| Three empty vodka bottles, two large and one small, were found at her flat, St Pancras Coroner's Court heard. | Three empty vodka bottles, two large and one small, were found at her flat, St Pancras Coroner's Court heard. |