Courtney Gartshore, 28, a mother from Aberdeen, is appealing her conviction and sentence after being found guilty of killing her three-month-old daughter Dahlia-Rose with a hairdryer in November 2023. Judge Simon Collins KC described the case as "uniquely disturbing" and stated that Gartshore was culpable to a high degree due to her carelessness, despite acknowledging she did not intend to harm or kill her baby. No reason for using the hairdryer on the infant was given by Gartshore's defense lawyer Murray Macara, who speculated it may have been an attempt to warm her up. Gartshore is expected to live with the knowledge of being responsible for her daughter's death for the rest of her life.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-31,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Courtney Gartshore, a 28-year-old mother from Aberdeen, has lodged an appeal against her conviction and sentence for killing her three-month-old daughter, Dahlia-Rose, with heat from a hairdryer. In November 2023, Gartshore was arrested and charged after an investigation into the baby's death, which occurred while she was in sole charge of the infant after drinking. At her sentencing earlier this month, Judge Simon Collins KC described the case as "uniquely disturbing" and a "gross breach of the most basic duty as a parent." Gartshore had not intended to harm or kill her baby, but was found culpable in the "highest degree" of carelessness. The appeal process has now begun.
Written for “Mother's Hairdryer Murder Appeal” on 2026-08-31,
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No political leaning scored for article 3384 · logged 2026-08-31
A mother who killed her three-month-old daughter with heat from a hairdryer plans to appeal against her conviction and sentence.
asserted
who → kill → conviction
Courtney Gartshore, 28, used the appliance to subject Dahlia-Rose Gartshore to “significant and sustained heat” on the head and body, fatally injuring her.
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Gartshore → use → her
Court officials confirmed on Monday that an intimation to appeal against conviction and sentence has been lodged on behalf of Gartshore, starting the appeal process.
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intimation → confirm → process
Read More
Gartshore had earlier been drinking while in sole charge of the infant.
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Gartshore → read → infant
An investigation into the child’s death was launched and Gartshore, from Aberdeen, was arrested and charged in November 2023.
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Gartshore → launch → November
Sentencing Gartshore earlier this month, Judge Simon Collins KC called it a “uniquely disturbing” case.
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KC → sentence → it
He said: “It is tragic as well as terrible.
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It → say → ?
“You will have to live the rest of your life with the knowledge that you were responsible for her death.
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you → have → death
Although Judge Collins acknowledged that Gartshore had not intended to harm or kill her baby, he said she was culpable in the “highest degree” of carelessness.
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she → acknowledge → carelessness
He added that it “should have been obvious” that Dahlia Rose was in “severe distress and pain”.
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Rose → add → distress
Judge Collins said her likely cause of death was hyperthermia and heat stroke.
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cause → say → death
Defence lawyer, Murray Macara, representing Gartshore, told the court he could not provide a reasonable or compelling explanation for why she used the hairdryer but speculated that the baby was cold and that she may have attempted to “recklessly” use it as a source of heat.
uncertain
she → represent → heat
He called it a “truly tragic and distressing case”.
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He → call → it
