Second inquest confirms Winehouse drank herself to death

In a file picture taken on July 23, 2009 British singer Amy Winehouse is pictured during a break in her trial outside Westminster Magistrates Court in London. A second inquest into the death of troubled British singer Amy Winehouse confirmed on January 8, 2013 that she died of accidental alcohol poisoning. The same verdict of death by misadventure was given at a re-hearing of the inquest which was ordered after it emerged that the first, in October 2011, was heard by a coroner who did not have the correct qualifications.AFP PHOTO

A second inquest into Amy Winehouse's death has confirmed that the singer died of drinking too much alcohol.The 27-year-old 'Rehab' singer was found dead at her home in Camden, north London, in 2011.

The verdict is identical to the first hearing which had to be repeated after the deputy coroner was found to lack the relevant experience, reported BBC News.

The coroner at St Pancras Coroner's Court recorded a verdict of misadventure, the same as the original inquest in October 2011. The hearing also heard the same evidence as the first inquest.

The hearing was told the 'Back To Black' star was more than five times the legal drink-drive limit when she died.

Dr Shirley Radcliffe, St Pancras Coroner, said the star died from "alcohol toxicity", adding it was "a level of alcohol commonly associated with fatality".

She said Winehouse "voluntarily consumed alcohol" and added "two empty vodka bottles were on the floor" beside her bed when her body was discovered.

The inquest was told the post mortem examination gave the cause of death as alcohol toxicity and the singer probably suffered a respiratory arrest.

Winehouse had resumed drinking after a period of abstinence.