An "utterly wicked" woman has been sentenced to six years in prison for attempting to murder a toddler by repeatedly giving her adult medication.
Laura Docherty, 35, dosed the young child with antidepressant and pain-killing drugs on various occasions between April 2021 and February 2023. The medication included Amitriptyline, Propranolol, and Dihydrocodeine. These acts occurred at a house in Edinburgh, the city's Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, and other locations, endangering the victim's life.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard that the toddler, who was two years old when the abuse began, suffered seizures and episodes of reduced consciousness as a result of the drug administration. On one occasion, Docherty's actions brought the child close to death, requiring resuscitation by a paramedic. During this critical event, Docherty filmed the incident.
Docherty denied attempted murder but was unanimously convicted. The attempted murder charge stated that the victim was admitted to the hospital and subjected to unnecessary medical investigations and procedures.
Judge Michael O'Grady KC imposed an Order for Lifelong Restriction on Docherty, of Glenrothes, Fife. She must serve a minimum term of six years before being eligible to apply for parole. The judge noted that Docherty committed the crime while under supervision.
"The word 'wicked' is an old fashioned word, but there are times when no other word will suffice," the judge stated. He added, "It is absolutely plain this was done for attention and drama." Docherty denied guilt, accepted no responsibility, showed no remorse or insight, and blamed others for her situation.
Addressing Docherty, the judge said, "Whatever your own trials and tribulations, whatever the turmoil in your own life, what you did to the child was utterly wicked." He described the scene of the young child struggling for breath in the back of an ambulance as impossible to forget.
The judge concluded that Docherty was willing to endanger the child's life for "nothing more than the drama of the moment and the attention" she appeared to seek. He stated that Docherty must have understood the pain and fear inflicted on the child. The victim's survival was attributed to the skill of medical professionals, not to Docherty.
Docherty's defense counsel argued for a substantial fixed jail term followed by community supervision, acknowledging the "extraordinary behaviour" and the need for Docherty to address her actions for any meaningful future.
Earlier charges against Docherty included fraud, alleging she set up a GoFundMe page using a fake name between February 2022 and February 2023, falsely claiming the child had a neurological illness. The jury did not have to consider this charge.
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