Courtney Gartshore, 28, was convicted of culpable homicide on July 16, 2026, after jurors determined she recklessly exposed her three-month-old daughter Dahlia-Rose to heat from a hairdryer while the infant was solely in her care in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, in September 2023. The jury at the High Court in Edinburgh took just over an hour to reach a unanimous verdict on the seventh day of the trial. Gartshore broke down in tears as she was led away from the dock.
Sister's Heartbreaking Response
Stacey Gartshore, the sister of the convicted mother, expressed her revulsion following the verdict. In 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." She added: "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."
Grief and Anger Expressed Publicly
In the months leading up to the verdict, Stacey had chronicled her torment on social media. On July 10, 2026, just days before the verdict, she wrote directly to her sister: "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." She also commemorated what would have been Dahlia-Rose's third birthday with a moving message: "Today would have been your 3rd birthday, my darling. I'm gutted we still don't have answers for you but not long now."
Joyful Memories Before Tragedy
Stacey's previous posts contrasted sharply with her later grief. On June 21, 2023, shortly after Dahlia-Rose's birth, she expressed joy at cutting the umbilical cord: "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." However, just three months later, on September 30, 2023, emergency services rushed to a home in Peterhead, where Dahlia-Rose was declared dead at the scene.
Details of the Crime
During the trial, jurors heard that Dahlia-Rose sustained burns across 18% of her body. The prosecution stated that the wounds were so catastrophic that the three-month-old died as a consequence. The court was also informed that the child's DNA was found on the hairdryer. The Crown maintained that Gartshore had consumed alcohol and the Class B drug mephedrone while she was the baby's sole guardian. Additional charges initially brought against Gartshore were withdrawn before the case went to the jury.
Police Statement and Sentencing
Following the verdict, Detective Inspector James Callander said: "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." He thanked the community for their support and cooperation. Gartshore will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on August 14, 2026.
