Amy Winehouse autopsy fails to find cause of death

Anautopsy of British singer Amy Winehouse has not established the cause of her death at age 27, a coroner's official said on Monday.

Histology and toxicology tests will be performed to help determine the cause of death, after the singer wasfound dead at her London home on Saturday.Those testresults are expected in two weeks.

Police have said the cause of her death is being treated as "unexplained," and that speculation that she might have suffered an overdose is "inappropriate."

Police had said earlier Monday that they have found no suspicious circumstances in her death.

"The scene was investigated by police and determined non-suspicious," said coroner's officer Sharon Duff.

Her parents had formally identified her body earlier in the day. A family spokesman said a private funeral, for family and close friends only, will be held Tuesday. The time and place were not revealed.

Winehouse's father greeted mourners laying flowers outside her north London home, thanking them for coming to lay bouquets, messages and handwritten notes. He also thanked photographers and camera crews covering the event.

"I can't tell you what this means to us it really is making this a lot easier for us," he said.

"We're devastated and I'm speechless but thanks for coming."

The singer's mother, Janis, was in tears as she examined the flowers, candles, vodka bottles, flags, drawings and handwritten cards left by neighbours, fans and well-wishers. Many of the offerings expressed the same sentiment: "What a waste."

Inquest opened

The inquest into the death was opened and adjourned at London's St. Pancras Coroner's Court. During the two-minute hearing, an official read out the name, birthdate and address of Winehouse, described as "a divorced lady living at Camden Square NW1."

In Britain, inquests are held to establish the facts whenever someone dies violently or in unexplained circumstances. The inquest into Winehouse's death is to resume on Oct. 26.

Brand calls addiction a 'disease'

Actor Russell Brand, a former drug addict, wrote a lengthy tribute in which he urged the media and public to change the way addiction is perceived "not as a crime or a romantic affectation but as a disease that will kill."

"Winehouse and I shared an affliction, the disease of addiction," he wrote. "Addiction is a serious disease; it will end with jail, mental institutions or death."

Last month, Winehouse cancelled her European comeback tour after she swayed and slurred her way through barely recognizable songs in her first show in the Serbian capital, Belgrade. Booed and jeered off stage, she flew home and her management said she would take time off to recover.

Her last public appearance came three days before her death, when she briefly joined her goddaughter, singer Dionne Bromfield, on stage at the Roundhouse in Camden, near her home.