Amy Winehouse's parents make emotional visit to touching tributes outside her Camden home after visiting coroners court

By Sara Nathan, Chris Greenwood, Hannah Roberts and Sarah Bull


-Amy's parents visit the tributes to the singer outside her home
-Inquest expected to open and adjourn later today
-Singer 'received the all-clear following a medical just hours before her death'
-She could have been dead for 'up to six hours', it is claimed
-'Inconsolable' ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil says, 'My tears just won't dry'
-Security guard Andrew Morris found singer not breathing in bed

Family support: Amy's parent's Mitch and Janis Winehouse were seen with their son Alex as they made an emotional visit to view the tributes left outside the singer's Camden home


They tragically lost their daughter over the weekend and today Mitch and Janis Winehouse paid an emotional visit to the shrine made in tribute to the singer, outside her London home.

Tears were shed as the couple, who are divorced, read the letters, poems and cards that were left among the flowers and presents in Camden.

Mitch, a London taxi driver, struggled to fight back the tears and couldn't help but break down as he surveyed the touching scene alongside Janis and their son Alex.


Amy's parents sought support from each other and were seen hugging and condoling the other as they took in the reality of what has happened.

They have said they are 'devastated' and 'speechless' by their daughter's death.

The singer's ex-boyfriend Reg Traviss was also present with Janis and Mitch and he viewed the memorial site quietly.

The London taxi driver flew from New York to London after hearing the news of his daughter's tragic death and today thanked reporters, photograhers and fans for their support.

In our thoughts: Amy's mother Janis, bottom right, Amy's father and his wife Jane, middle, her ex-boyfriend Reg and brother Alex were overcome with emotion as they read the memorial cards letters and notes

Kind words: Amy's father Mitch Winehouse read a card left by a fan as he viewed the tributes to the singer outside her Camden Home. Her ex-boyfriend Reg Traviss was also present


He said:'I know a lot of you, we've been together for five, six years, I know you've got a job to do. I'm glad you're all here anyway.'

'And you people in the street, I can't tell you what this means to us - it really is making this a lot easier for us.

'Amy was about one thing and that was love, her whole life was devoted to her family and her friends and to you guys as well.

'We're devastated and I'm speechless but thanks for coming.'

Breaking down: Mitch couldn't contain his grief and was comforted by Amy's brother Alex as the family including he former wife, Amy's mother Janis read the tributes to their late daughter

Tragic loss: Amy's father Mitch thanked the photographers, reporters and the fans for being there and for their support

Paying respects: There are hundreds of flowers, parcels, gifts and presents that have been left for the singer in Camden


He also spoke with members of the public who had turned out to pay their respects to the singer.

Mitch and Janis supported each other earlier in the day as they visited the coroners court to formally identify Amy's body.

Amy's mother Janis broke down in tears after leaving the coroners court and sought comfort from Mitch and her son, Amy's brother Alex.

The family then made their way to view the growing number of tributes that have been left by fans who were devastated to learn of the singer's tragic death on Saturday, she was aged just 27.

Heartbroken: Mitch and his wife Jane looked devastated and tearful as they left the coroner's office earlier today. Amy ex-boyfriend Reg Traviss was also in the group

In pain: Mitch and Janis tried to contain their emotions but the day proved extremely painful for the family


It is expected that news on how she died will be released later today.

Pieces of artwork had also been laid down, including a striking photo of Winehouse posing in a bar, and a picture by artist Mysterious Al, showing her face with monochrome cartoon eyes and a white streak in her trademark beehive hair.

It is understood the star's body was formally identified this morning.

Sticking together: Amy's family her mother Janis, her father Mitch and her brother Alex lean on each other for support

Deep grief: Janis saw her daughter the day before she died and Amy told her that she loved her

Amy's close friend Kelly Osbourne flew to London earlier today after learning the news of her death.

The singer was extremely distressed and dressed all in black as she made her way tearfully through the airport.

The inquest into Winehouse's death will be opened and adjourned at St Pancras Coroner's Court this afternoon, police said.

Amy's mother Janis had seen her daughter the day before her death and the signer told her: ‘I love you, Mum.’

The multi-millionaire singer had repeatedly tried but failed to overcome her addiction to alcohol, particularly vodka, and drugs.

Miss Winehouse, 27, was found at her North London home by a bodyguard on Saturday afternoon.

She was believed to be ‘devastated’ after splitting up with her on-off boyfriend, film director Reg Traviss, who was seen outside her home hours after her body was discovered.

Her family will be given the results of a post-mortem examination today which will finally allow them to bury her.

Amy's mother Janis told yesterday how she saw her daughter the day before she died, describing her as 'out of it'.

She said: 'Her passing so suddenly still hasn't hit me, adding that Amy told her she loved her.

'They are the words I will always treasure,' she said. I'm glad I saw her when I did.'

Bond: Amy Winehouse with her mother Janis after accepting a Grammy Award at London's Riverside Studios for the 50th Grammy Awards ceremony in 2008

Devastated: Amy's father Mitch Winehouse was seen at New York's JFK airport on the day of his daughter's untimely death


Drawn to drink: Amy Winehouse on stage in 2008 sipping a large glass of wine

It has been claimed Amy had bought drugs the night before her death but a preliminary police investigation has shown no drug paraphernalia was found at Miss Winehouse’s £2.5million home.

Police sources have indicated she died following a drink binge.

Asked about the circumstances of Miss Winehouse's death, her PR spokesperson Chris Goodman told The Sun: 'Amy was on her own at home apart from a security guard who we had appointed to help look after her over the past couple of years.

'She was in her bedroom after saying she wanted to sleep and when he went to wake her he found she wasn't breathing.

'He called the emergency services straight away. He was very shocked. At this stage no-one knows how she died. She died alone in bed.'

It was also claimed Miss Winehouse may have been dead for up to six hours before she was found by her security guard, Andrew Morris.

A source told the newspaper: 'Rigor mortis had set in, indiciating she is likely to have been dead for anything up to six hours.'

The singer had lunch with her mother Janis the day before she died. Mrs Winehouse believed her daughter’s death had been ‘only a matter of time’.

They had met in Camden and Mrs Winehouse said her daughter had ‘seemed weary, but that wasn’t particularly unusual as she always went to bed late. Her passing so suddenly still hasn’t hit me’.

As mother and daughter kissed on the doorstep of Miss Winehouse’s home, she said: ‘I love you, Mum.’

‘They are the words I will always treasure and always remember Amy by,’ said Mrs Winehouse, who lives in Enfield, North London.

Bad taste? Fans left bottles of vodka and wine, and cans of beer at the site


Meanwhile, it has also been claimed Miss Winehouse had a medical examination by her doctor just hours before she died.

A source said: 'The doctor was happy with her condition. When he left on Friday night he had no concerns. Less than 24 hours later she was found dead.

'Amy's health has been very fragile and she has been having a series of check-ups.'

Yesterday, on the day Miss Winehouse should have been attending a barbecue at the Essex home of her uncle, tributes poured in.

One came from Gordon Brown’s wife Sarah, who wrote on Twitter: ‘At only 27 what a terrible waste of a great talent. Sincere condolences to her family.’

Camden tribute: Amy Winehouse's picture has been posted on a street sign for Camden Square near her London flat

Fans' notes: Amy's grieving fans not only left her notes on paper but also wrote on the footpath to say they love her

Others questioned whether she had been adequately supported by her management and record label, Island, which is owned by Universal, for her addictions.

On her secret Facebook page, where she used the name Shirley Baxter, the singer recently joked about her place being cemented in the drug-ridden North London scene, writing to a friend ‘Camden Forever’.

Miss Winehouse’s father Mitch, 60, flew to London from New York yesterday, where he had been due to perform at a series of jazz gigs. Looking stony faced, the former black cab driver landed at Heathrow Airport at 6.30am.

A close friend told the Daily Mail: ‘Mitch is being stoic for the family, but he is beating himself up, he was always by Amy’s side.’

Mr Winehouse said: ‘This isn’t real. I’m completely devastated. I’m coming home. I have to be with Amy. I can’t crack up for her sake. My family need me.’

In a statement, the singer’s family said: ‘Our family has been left bereft by the loss of Amy, a wonderful daughter, sister, niece. She leaves a gaping hole in our lives. We are coming together to remember her and we would appreciate some privacy and space at this terrible time.’

Moving: Flowers, notes and messages and candles were left outside Amy's Camden home yesterday evening

Young fans: Two little girls bend down to read the messages left as they join crowds of people eager to pay their respects to the singer


Only last month Miss Winehouse had checked out of the Priory Clinic following intensive treatment for her drinking and was given the all-clear to carry on with her comeback European tour. At the time, it was confirmed she would continue as an out-patient.

She then performed a seven-song set at the prestigious 100 Club in London in front of friends and family and was deemed to be ‘back on form’.

But weeks later she was booed off stage at a gig in Belgrade, Serbia, after giving a dazed performance and delivering barely recognisable versions of her hits. The tour was swiftly cancelled.


Following this debacle, Miss Winehouse kept a low profile. She spent most of her time with her close friend, Big Brother contestant Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, who told the Mail: ‘I’m absolutely distraught by the death of my dear friend Amy.

‘She was a loving, wonderful person with an enormous talent and big heart. Fragile but strong, beautiful but deep.

‘I will always remember her as the person she actually was, and not the way in she was often portrayed.’

Mourning fans: A grieving fan wearing an Amy Winehouse printed T-shirt sheds a tear outside her home in front of cameras

Leaving notes: Youngsters gather around the area of flowers to leave their personalised messages to the late singer


Staff at the A Baia cafe on Camden Square claimed the singer had attempted to give up drinking in the weeks leading up to her death.

Owner Ze Silva said she would come in for fried breakfasts, adding: ‘She would always come here with her bodyguards and play pool, sometimes twice a day.

‘But in the last two, three weeks she didn’t drink. She said she had given up. She just had a Coca Cola. She told me, “I’m not drinking. Don’t give me anything to drink if I ask for it. I mustn’t have it”.’

Miss Winehouse’s ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil will be ‘devastated’, according to his mother.

Fielder-Civil is currently in prison after being sentenced last month to 32 months for burglary and possession of an imitation firearm.

Talking to The Sun from prison, Fielder-Civil is quoted as saying he is 'beyond inconsolable' about his ex-wife's death, adding, 'My tears won't dry'.

He added: 'I will never ever again feel the love I felt for her. Everybody who knew me and Amy knew the depth of our love. I can't believe she's dead.'

And Fielder-Civil's girlfriend Sarah Aspin, who has a newborn son with him, said Miss Winehouse would be sorely missed,

She said: 'Blake is the father of our son. But I saw him and Amy together and I know they were really in love and were soulmates.

'She always loved him and he always loved her - but it was just never going to work. Basically they couldn't live with each other and they couldn't live without each other.

'It is hard for me knowing he still loved her, but I do understand his feelings.'

The couple married in Miami, Florida, in 2007 but divorced in 2009. He has long been blamed for bringing about her drugs downfall.

Local: Amy Winehouse was a regular patron of the Hawley Arms pub in Camden




source: dailymail