Mitch Winehouse has lost a High Court legal battle against two of Amy Winehouse’s close friends over the sale of the late singer’s personal belongings.
The case centred on claims that stylist Naomi Parry and friend Catriona Gourlay had improperly profited from auctioning items in the United States in 2021 and 2023. Acting as administrator of his daughter’s estate, Mitch Winehouse alleged the pair had concealed the sales.
However, Deputy High Court Judge Sarah Clarke KC dismissed the claims, ruling that neither woman had deliberately hidden the items and that the claimant could have identified them with reasonable diligence.
The court heard that an earlier auction included more than 800 items and raised $1.4 mln, with a portion donated to the Amy Winehouse Foundation. Among the items sold was a dress worn during the singer’s final performance, which fetched over $240,000.
In her judgment, Clarke described Mitch Winehouse as an «unreliable witness» and said he had pursued the case without properly verifying his claim. She also noted he was «keen to promote» the foundation but equally focused on ensuring the family benefited financially from the estate.
Following the ruling, Parry said the decision had «unequivocally» cleared her name after years of what she described as damaging allegations.
The outcome brings an end to a high-profile dispute over the legacy and personal belongings of the late singer, whose estate continues to generate significant revenue years after her death.
