Amy Winehouse autopsy results inconclusive, say police

An autopsy on the body of singer Amy Winehouse has revealed no cause of death, according to police officials.

The Metropolitan Police, according to the Associated Press, say they are now awaiting the results of toxicology tests, which are due in two to four weeks.

An inquest into the 27-year-old's death, whose body was found on Saturday at her home in Camden, north London, was opened at St Pancras coroner's court on Monday afternoon and adjourned until 26 October.

Speaking at St Pancras Coroners Court during the two minute hearing, coroner's officer Sharon Duff said: "I bring before you the death of Amy Jade Winehouse who was aged 27 born on the 14th September 1983 in London.

"She was a divorced lady living at Camden Square, NW1. She was certified dead at her home on July 23 by a paramedic and a doctor. She was a singer/songwriter at the time of her death.

"She was identified by her family here at St Pancras this morning.

"A section 20 post mortem has been carried out today and samples have been taken for histology and toxicology to determine the cause of death.

"The scene has been examined by police who have deemed it non-suspicious."

Her parents, Mitch and Janis, formally identified Winehouse's body on Monday, paving the way for a private family funeral to be held this week.

A rep for Winehouse confirms that the soul singer will be laid to rest at a private funeral on Tuesday, July 26. No further details were released.

'Amy was about one thing and that was love...'

Janis and Mitch Winehouse also returned to their daughter's Camden home earlier today and thanked fans for their tributes.

Her father Mitch, a former London taxi driver, paid an emotional visit to the makeshift shrine outside the Back To Black singer's home.

"I can't tell you what this means to us," he told fans and media gathered outside. "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 you guys as well.

"We are devastated and I am speechless. Thank you for coming."

Addressing the throng of reporters camped outside, he said: "I know a lot of you. We've been together for five, six years. I know you have a job to do. I'm glad you are all here anyway."

Adele pays tribute

British pop crooner Adele has also paid tribute to Winehouse.

In a statement on her blog the Rolling in the Deep hitmaker, 23, says Winehouse "paved the way for artists like me and made people excited about British music again."

The post, titled AMY FLIES IN PARADISE X, reads: "Not many people have it in them to do something they love, simply because they love it, with no fuss and no compromise," Adele wrote.

"But she knew what she was capable of and didn't even need to try. If she wanted to do something she would, and if she didn't, she'd say, 'F**k off.' It came easy to her and that's why we all loved her so much."

"We believed every word she wrote, and it would sink in deep when she sang them. Amy paved the way for artists like me and made people excited about British music again whilst being fearlessly hilarious and blase about the whole thing."

"I don't think she ever realized just how brilliant she was and how important she is, but that just makes her even more charming," Adele continued. "Although I'm incredibly sad about Amy passing, I'm also reminded of how immensely proud of her I am as well - and grateful to be inspired by her. Amy flies in paradise xx."

Meanwhile, more details about Winehouse's final hours are emerging.

Winehouse's UK-based representative, Chris Goodman, has been quoted by several media outlets as saying that the singer's body was discovered by a security guard at 4 p.m. (local time) on Saturday.

Goodman told The Sun newspaper: "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.

The newspaper reports that the five-time Grammy winner last spoke to her security team at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Sources also claim that Winehouse had seen a doctor on Friday night, part of a series of regular check-ups she was having due to her battle with addiction. According to The Sun, the doctor gave Winehouse the all clear.

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."

The Sun also reports that police sources claim there were no sign of drugs at Winehouse's £2.5million home. Several tabloid reports claimed that Winehouse had bought drugs the night before she died. The Winehouse family has described these claims as "nonsense".

Posthumous album?

Winehouse's untimely death has also sparked a surge in interest and sales of her music.

According to several reports, sales of her 2003 debut, Frank, and second album, Back To Black, have soared both in stores and online over the past few days.

Spokesperson Gennaro Castaldo, from British music retailer HMV, told CNN: "There was an initial spike in downloads on Saturday evening as people heard the news, and then on Sunday when stores were open, we had a lot of people coming in.

"It repeats a pattern seen when other artists have died," he said. "Time and again, when someone passes away, you see a huge surge of interest in their current album, and also in other items in their catalogue.

"People want a tangible connection to the artist - they want their own little piece of Amy to hold on to."

There's also been speculation that Winehouse's record label, Universal Music, is hoping to piece together all of Winehouse's previously unreleased material for a posthumous release.

"After Michael Jackson died, his CD went to number one again," a music industry source tells The Huffington Post. "And he continued to set the charts on fire with a stash of unreleased music that went on to earn his estate and music company millions. The same will happen with Amy."

Another insider adds: "Michael has a vault of unreleased material and was always experimenting with new sounds. Amy, on the other hand, didn't produce anywhere near the volume that he did. At the moment all they believe they have is a few new songs and several songs that didn't make it onto her debut CD."

Although unconfirmed by her record label, Winehouse was believed to be working on a follow-up to 2006's sublime Back to Black.

According to Time.com, Winehouse told UK-based website Metro last year: "The [new] album will be six months at the most ... It's going to be very much the same as my second album."

The singer's goddaughter, Dionne Bromfield, also told Digital Spy in April that she has heard the new material.

She said: "I have heard it, and it's very good! I hear she's touring a few places in Europe soon, too, but I don't know where. Obviously I'm saying no more!"

The Daily Telegraph also published a report yesterday that Winehouse had "spent the past two years working sporadically on a third album", adding that the songs were at demo stage. The newspaper cited sources as saying there was "a lot of material" available.

Winehouse recorded a duet with the great Tony Bennett, 84, at London's Abbey Road Studios in March. The classic pop standard Body and Soul will appear on Benett's forthcoming album, Duets II.

R.I.P. Amy.

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