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A mother has been sentenced to six years in prison after causing the death of her three-month-old daughter by burning her with a hairdryer. Courtney Gartshore, aged 28, inflicted “significant and sustained heat” injuries on the infant, Dahlia-Rose, using the appliance. Emergency responders arrived at a residence in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, in September 2023 but were unable to save the child.
Following a trial held in July at the High Court in Aberdeen, Gartshore was found guilty of culpable homicide. During sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Simon Collins KC described the case as “uniquely disturbing and distressing” and referred to it as both “tragic as well as terrible.” Gartshore attended the 25-minute hearing via videolink, visibly emotional throughout. The judge emphasized that Gartshore would have to live with the knowledge of her responsibility for her daughter’s death for the rest of her life.
Gartshore’s defence lawyer, Murray Macara KC, told the court that his client had no memory of using the hairdryer. He stated that there was no reasonable explanation for its use, speculating only that it might have been intended to warm the baby. During the trial, Gartshore’s defence argued that Dahlia-Rose might have already been deceased prior to sustaining the burns. However, the jury quickly reached a unanimous verdict of guilt. Evidence presented revealed that the infant suffered burns covering 18% of her body, including her head, and that she had been exposed to alcohol prior to the incident.
The jury was spared the distress of viewing photographs of Dahlia-Rose’s injuries. After the conviction, Detective Inspector James Callander remarked on the heartbreaking nature of the case, highlighting the vulnerability of children and the particular horror when harm comes from a parent. He affirmed the commitment of everyone involved in the investigation to uncover the truth and ensure justice was served
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