Winehouse's Father Loses Legal Battle Over Proceeds From Clothing Sales

Amy Winehouse's father has lost a High Court claim against two of his late daughter's friends over the sale of her personal belongings.

Mitch Winehouse brought legal action against the singer's former stylist, Naomi Parry, and her friend, Catriona Gourlay, after they auctioned dozens of items linked to the star. Among them was a silk mini-dress worn by Winehouse during her final performance.

Acting as administrator of his daughter's estate, Mr Winehouse sought hundreds of thousands of pounds, alleging the pair profited from selling items at US auctions in 2021 and 2023. However, Ms Parry and Ms Gourlay argued the belongings had either been gifted to them by Winehouse or were already in their possession before the Back to Black singer died from alcohol poisoning at the age of 27 in July 2011.

Mr Winehouse claimed the women had "deliberately concealed" the sales and failed to inform him of their plans to auction the items. He also argued that the pieces formed part of a 2021 catalogue of 834 lots that he believed belonged to the estate, and alleged the pair were asserting ownership of more than 150 items.

But Sarah Clarke KC, sitting as a deputy High Court judge, ruled in favour of Ms Parry and Ms Gourlay.

In her judgment, she said: "I find that neither Ms Parry nor Ms Gourlay deliberately concealed any of their disputed items from the claimant and even if I am wrong about that, Mr Winehouse could have discovered what disputed items the defendants had with reasonable diligence."

The silk dress worn by Winehouse at her final concert in Belgrade, Serbia, was sold by Ms Parry for $243,200 (£182,000) in 2021.

In written evidence, Ms Parry said she believed "Amy would have wanted me and Catriona to be financially secure."

Whitestone Solicitors