Amy Winehouse at Lollapalooza at Grant Park in Chicago in 2007. Credit: Brian Kersey AP

Two close friends of the late singer Amy Winehouse have issued a defence in the ongoing legal dispute over selling £730,000 worth of her personal possessions at auction.

The “Valerie” singer’s father, acting as administrator of his daughter’s estate, is suing Naomi Parry and Catriona Gourlay, alleging that they sent “various items of personal property owned by Amy during her lifetime” to auction over the last three years.

The singer’s estate is seeking £534,192.90 in damages from  Ms Parry and also £198,041.07 from Ms Gourlay.

The estate has questioned how the items came into their possession and has not received satisfactory answers.

Amanda Hadkiss, the lawyer for the two women said the case should be thrown out. She said it was denied that “he had actual possession of and/or an immediate right to possession.”

Hadkiss also said of some of the 156 items that were sold: “Amy was not the owner of any of these items during her lifetime.”