WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Courtney Gartshore, 28, was found guilty of culpable homicide after jurors concluded she culpably and recklessly caused Dahlia-Rose to be exposed to heat from a hairdryer
The sister of a wicked mother who killed her three-month-old baby by exposing her to heat from a hairdryer has expressed her revulsion following the guilty verdict.
Courtney Gartshore, 28, was convicted of culpable homicide after jurors determined she recklessly exposed Dahlia-Rose to heat from a hairdryer while the infant was solely in her care in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, in September 2023.
Jurors took just over an hour to reach their unanimous verdict on the seventh day of the trial at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, July 16, before Gartshore broke down in tears as she was led away from the dock.
Her sister, Stacey Gartshore, responded to the verdict, describing the agony of losing her cherished niece as something she will bear for the rest of her life. Hours after the decision, Stacey posted a heartfelt tribute to Dahlia-Rose.
She wrote: “Well, my beautiful little darling – I can finally look at your photos and say I hope your beautiful wee soul is finally at peace now. Justice was served and rightfully so.”, reports the Daily Record.
“I will carry all of the pain and hurt of losing you as a daily reminder of how much I love you and always will. I may never see you again, but you will live in my heart for the rest of my life. Sleep tight my little angel. Forever loved and missed. All my love, Auntie Stacey.”
The heartbreaking tribute followed months of public posts in which Stacey chronicled her torment while awaiting the case’s conclusion. Just days before the verdict, on July 10, she penned words about the crushing grief she had carried since Dahlia-Rose’s death.
Speaking directly to her sister, she said: “No words can express how I feel. I am consumed by grief, anger and hurt. You took away my beautiful little niece, my princess. You will never take away my hurt or anger at you personally.
“You have left me with this pain for the rest of my life. My heart is broken beyond words. The anger I feel towards you is unbearable. And the devastation you have caused me is unbearable. It will never be undone.
“I will grieve for my little Dahlia-Rose for the rest of my days. No words can express the hurt and sorrow I feel for you, my little darling. You will always live in my heart, my beautiful princess. It is a pain that my heart will never heal from. Always in my heart and thoughts, my wee flower. All of my love forever and always my princess forever.”
Just weeks before, on what should have been Dahlia-Rose’s third birthday, Stacey commemorated the occasion with another deeply moving message.
She added: “Today would have been your 3rd birthday, my darling. I’m gutted we still don’t have answers for you but not long now. You are always missed and loved, my wee Dahlia Rose. Love you always and forever, from auntie Stacey.”
The heartbreaking posts stand in stark contrast to the joyful memories Stacey had shared with Dahlia-Rose prior to her devastating death. On June 21, 2023, just after the infant arrived, Stacey marked the moment she cut her umbilical cord.
She penned a message to her sister at the time: “Courtney, I am absolutely over the moon and very honoured to be part of your time bringing baby Dahlia-Rose into the world. And by god, cutting her cord was the best experience ever. I’m so proud of you, my darling. You were absolutely amazing from start to finish.”
Yet merely three months afterwards, Dahlia-Rose would tragically lose her life when emergency services raced to a home in Peterhead on September 30, 2023. The infant was declared dead at the scene. After an inquiry, Gartshore was detained and charged in November 2023.
Throughout the proceedings, jurors were told Dahlia-Rose sustained burns across 18% of her body. The prosecution stated the wounds were so catastrophic that the three-month-old perished as a consequence. The court was also informed that the child’s DNA was discovered on the hairdryer.
The Crown maintained that Gartshore had drunk alcohol prior to the incident and had taken the Class B substance mephedrone while she was the baby’s only guardian. Additional charges initially brought against Gartshore were withdrawn by the Crown before the matter went before the jury.
Following the verdict, Detective Inspector James Callander stated: “Children are defenceless and should be protected. The death of any child is particularly harrowing, but a child’s death at the hands of a parent is incredibly disturbing.
“Everyone involved in this investigation was deeply affected by the circumstances of Dahlia Rose’s death, but our job is to uncover the truth and ensure that the person responsible is brought to justice. I would like to express sincere thanks to everyone who supported what was an incredibly difficult and sensitive enquiry.
“The unwavering commitment and professionalism shown by our officers and partner agencies who worked tirelessly to ensure this complex enquiry was conducted thoroughly and with the utmost care, dignity, and respect.
“I also want to acknowledge the local community, for their patience, understanding and support throughout this investigation, particularly those who came forward with information, whose cooperation has been invaluable in helping us establish the truth and secure this conviction.”
Gartshore will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on August 14.
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