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Legal
Man who incorrectly appointed Winehouse coroner suspended
By CMU Editorial | Published on Tuesday 14 February 2012
The London coroner who made his unqualified wife a coroner too has been suspended, according to The Sun, while his conduct is investigated by the Judicial Complaints Office. This story has a pop angle, of course, because one of the deaths Suzanne Greenaway oversaw as a coroner, before her lack of qualifications was discovered, was that of Amy Winehouse.
Andrew Reid thought his wife was qualified when he appointed her, believing her legal work in Australia should count, however it then emerged that the rules state a new coroner must have five years experience practising law in the UK, which Greenaway did not. Once this discovery was made, Greenaway resigned, and Reid was subsequently suspended. The Sun says Reid could now face disciplinary action or even the sack for his mistake.
There’s no reason to suspect any of the inquests overseen by Greenaway while in the coroner role – including that of Winehouse – were handled wrongly, but her rulings could be overturned in the high court because she had been incorrectly appointed. Reid has written to all affected families, and earlier this month it was reported Winehouse’s parents were taking legal advice on the matter.