The father of late singer Amy Winehouse has initiated legal proceedings in London’s High Court, seeking repayment of £730,000 from two of her former flatmates who he alleges wrongfully auctioned possessions belonging to the singer. Amy Winehouse, who died at age 27 in 2011 from alcohol poisoning, left behind a substantial estate, and the dispute centers on items sold from her personal effects.

Mitch Winehouse, Amy’s father, who had maintained contact with Naomi Parry and Catriona Gourlay—both aged 41 and having lived with the singer at various points—claims the women sold around 150 items without proper ownership. The contested auction occurred in Los Angeles in 2021, featuring approximately 700 items, many reportedly provided by Winehouse’s family. Although a portion of the auction proceeds was donated to a charity associated with the late singer, Mr. Winehouse alleges that Parry and Gourlay kept the revenue from a significant number of items for themselves.

The dispute intensified following the sale of a pair of Amy Winehouse’s blood-stained ballet slippers by Ms. Gourlay for £3,000 in 2023. At the opening of the civil trial held at the Royal Courts of Justice, Mr. Winehouse said he was shocked by the sale and asserted that many of the items should have been part of Amy’s estate rather than sold without authorization. He indicated the funds should be redirected to the singer’s charity, which aims to build a school in St. Lucia.

Representing Mr. Winehouse, barrister Henry Legge KC argued that the two women’s claims of full transparency before the 2021 auction are contradicted by documentary evidence. He highlighted text message exchanges between Los Angeles auctioneer Darren Julien and Naomi Parry that revealed an awareness the Winehouse family disputed ownership over certain valuable pieces. In one message, Julien noted a dress sold for $190,000 and speculated that Mitch Winehouse believed the item belonged to the family, to which Parry replied, “Unsure how he’ll feel when he realises it’s not [his].”

Mr. Winehouse acknowledged his daughter’s generosity and suggested she might have given some possessions to the two women, but he rejected the idea that she would have parted with as many as 150 items. The legal claim details frequent visits by Parry and Gourlay to a storage facility housing a large quantity of Winehouse’s belongings, which the father argues supports their claim to exclusive control and subsequent auction of the possessions.

In response, Parry and Gourlay maintain that many items had originally been lent to Winehouse and, therefore, remained their property. They also contend that the clothing and other items auctioned included those that Amy had legally gifted to them, affirming their right to sell them.

The case is ongoing as both sides present their evidence and arguments to the court.