Courtney Gartshore, 28, sobbed as she was convicted of culpable homicide last week at the High Court in Aberdeen, Scotland. Her mother Leanne has now disowned her, vowing she will “never speak to” her again after being left “disgusted” by details that emerged in court.
Mother's change of heart
Despite initially pledging to “stand by” her daughter, Leanne reportedly had a change of heart halfway through court proceedings. Since Gartshore was convicted, Leanne has posted a scathing social media post. It read: "To my 'daughter'. However long you get won’t be long enough. And I will never speak to you again as long as I have breath in my body. I defended a down and out liar and a f****** good actress."
Details of the case
Gartshore’s daughter Dahlia-Rose passed away on September 30, 2023, after suffering burns to 18% of the surface area of her body. The baby had been exposed to heat from a hairdryer, and the court heard that testing showed the appliance reached temperatures of up to 90C. Gartshore's DNA was later found on the appliance.
Burns specialist Dr Timothy Burge informed the court that while it's possible the incident led to Dahlia-Rose's death, he suspects the little girl may have been “already dead”. The official cause of her death remains undetermined.
Investigation and trial
Gartshore was apprehended and charged a month following the fatal event in Peterhead, before facing trial earlier this month. She had previously told friends and family that she believed her daughter succumbed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). However, the court heard that Dahlia-Rose's tragic end was due to the severe injuries she sustained. The baby's injuries were so extreme that a paramedic on the scene thought the infant was “decomposing”.
Prosecutor Advocate depute Alan Cameron argued that Gartshore and Dahlia-Rose were the only two individuals in the property that night, concluding that she was the sole person who could've activated the appliance. Describing the case as “incredibly difficult”, Cameron advised the jury they didn't need to determine why the hairdryer had been switched on, but suggested that alcohol intoxication could've been a contributing factor.
Sentencing and reaction
Gartshore is set to be sentenced on 14 August. Detective Inspector James Callander labelled the case as “incredibly disturbing”, saying: "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."
