Courtney Gartshore, who was jailed for six years this month after being convicted of culpable homicide over the death of her three-month-old daughter Dahlia-Rose, has instructed her legal team to challenge both her conviction and her sentence.
The 28-year-old subjected the infant to “significant and sustained heat” on her head and body on September 30, 2023. Emergency services were called to the family home in King Street in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, but the baby had died.
Appeal lodged at High Court
An “intimation of intention to appeal” has been lodged at the High Court of Appeal in Edinburgh, with Gartshore given until October 20 to file papers setting out the grounds for her appeal.
Gartshore, the sole parent listed on Dahlia-Rose’s birth certificate, appeared on a video link from prison to give evidence during the trial, saying she had no recollection of using the hairdryer on her baby.
Family fury at appeal bid
The move has sparked fury among those close to Dahlia-Rose’s family, who have accused Gartshore of showing a “total lack of remorse”.
A source said: “The family have been beyond heartbroken by Dahlia-Rose’s death.
“Following what was a horrifically difficult trial, to now learn that the person responsible for her death wants her conviction and sentence overturned is just too much to bear. It just shows a total lack of remorse.”
Social work probe demanded
Gartshore’s appeal bid comes after it was revealed that Dahlia-Rose’s family had demanded an investigation into alleged social work failings. Aberdeenshire Council is now under pressure to probe alleged missed opportunities in the care of the baby.
Sources revealed that Dahlia-Rose’s family “want answers” and had requested meetings with social work chiefs at the council to ask why concerning incidents were allegedly ignored on more than one occasion. The family has also called for a probe into alleged failings in Dahlia-Rose’s care which had previously been highlighted.
Dahlia-Rose is believed to have died from hyperthermia and heatstroke. She suffered extensive burns to the right side of her body, including her arm, chest, armpit, shoulder, face, scalp and brain.
Trial details and response
Before her death, Gartshore had been drinking and arrived home at about 4am. She made a 999 call claiming she had awoken that morning to find Dahlia-Rose dead in their home. The court heard she told the operator: “I just woke up and her head is all purple.” The operator asked if Dahlia-Rose was “beyond help”, to which Gartshore replied: “Yeah.”
She claimed the baby was “perfectly fine” the day before but her skin was now “peeling off”. Paramedic Shona Helm described finding the baby as “distressing”. Material containing Dahlia-Rose’s DNA was found on the nozzle of a hairdryer.
Judge Simon Collins KC called it a “uniquely disturbing” case. He said: “This was a gross breach of the most basic duty as a parent.”
Gartshore now faces a deadline of October 20 to lodge the papers setting out the grounds of her appeal.
Aberdeenshire Council’s director of education and children’s services, Laurence Findlay, said: “The death of Dahlia-Rose is a tragedy, and my thoughts remain with all those affected.
“All concerns relating to the welfare and safety of children are taken very seriously and our teams respond to them in line with our statutory duties and our own safeguarding procedures.
“Owing to our responsibilities around confidentiality, we are unable to comment on individual cases.”
