A 28-year-old Scottish mother, Courtney Gartshore, has been found guilty of killing her infant daughter with a hairdryer. Gartshore sobbed as she was led to cells at the High Court in Aberdeen after the conviction related to the death of three-month-old Dahlia-Rose in September 2023.
The baby suffered burns to 18 percent of her body's surface after Gartshore, who had been drinking, turned the appliance on her. Dahlia-Rose died in her mother's bed at their home in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. The severity of the injuries led a paramedic to initially believe the baby's body was decomposing, and experts described the case as unprecedented.
Gartshore had denied culpable homicide, claiming to family and friends that her daughter had died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. A recording of a 999 call was presented in court, where Gartshore stated that Dahlia-Rose had turned 'purple' while sleeping. CCTV footage showed Gartshore arriving home around 4 a.m. after drinking with friends. She made the emergency call around 9:40 a.m., reporting she had found her baby dead but did not mention the hairdryer.
During the trial, a burns expert called by the defense, Timothy Burge, testified that in his view, the baby was not killed by heat injuries, suggesting she might have already been deceased. However, the baby's DNA was found on a hairdryer. Prosecutor Alan Cameron noted that Gartshore and her daughter were the only individuals in the property, indicating Gartshore was the one who operated the appliance.
Following the verdict, the judge offered counseling to the jury, acknowledging the distressing nature of the case. Detective Inspector James Callander stated that children are defenseless and require protection, describing the death of a child at the hands of a parent as particularly disturbing. He commended the professionalism of the officers and partner agencies involved in the investigation, as well as the community for their support.
Gartshore's solicitor, Murray McAra, mentioned that she has mental health issues. She is scheduled to be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on August 14.
