They earned more than 700,000 pounds (around 751,500 Swiss francs) by auctioning off dresses and other items that belonged to their friend Amy Winehouse: a lawsuit now pits them against the singer’s father, who claims that the money should have gone to his family and to a foundation dedicated to her memory.
Mitchell Winehouse, who brought an action heard since Monday by the High Court in London, accuses Naomi Parry, ex-stylist of the star who died in 2011, and Catriona Gourlay, ex-roommate of the singer, of having appropriated his personal property to sell them and keep the sums thus obtained.
Some 150 items at auction
According to Mitchell Winehouse’s lawyer, Henry Legge, the two women sold at auction, between November 2021 and May 2023, some 150 items that belonged to the “Back to Black” singer, including the dresses she wore during her last tour in June 2011. The singer, aged 27, died the following month, on July 23, of excess alcohol.
According to the complaint, Mitchell Winehouse thought he was the sole owner of these objects, and should therefore have received the sums raised from their sale via the Julien’s auction house, based in Los Angeles. Bidders were also informed that 30% of the proceeds would go to the Amy Winehouse Foundation.
But according to Ted Loveday, Catriona Gourlay’s lawyer, most of the objects had been lent or given by the singer to the two women, even if there is no tangible proof of these donations. “If a 19-year-old young woman gives a scarf or earrings to her friend, no one signs a contract,” argued the lawyer, emphasizing Amy’s “generosity.”
Wealth gap
Catriona Gourlay and Naomi Parry met Amy Winehouse in the early 2000s, before the singer became a global star. Having become her stylist, Naomi Parry created some of her most famous stage outfits, including the “Bamboo dress”, which she wore during her last tour, sold in 2021 for 243,200 dollars (approximately 196,000 Swiss francs).
Tuesday, on the second day of the trial, Naomi Parry’s lawyer, Beth Grossman, pointed out to jurors the wealth gap between Mitchell Winehouse, who admitted to being a multi-millionaire thanks to her daughter’s inheritance, and the two women, who are “tightening their belts”.
According to the complaint, Mitchell Winehouse had initially offered the two women an out-of-court settlement, offering to give him 30% of the winnings made. But when they refused, he decided to go to court and is now demanding the total amount of sales from them, i.e. 730,000 pounds (around 783,700 Swiss francs), according to the estimate of his lawyers. The hearings are due to end on Friday, pending a ruling on an unspecified date.
(les/rk)
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