Aibu to think 6 years sentence is far too lenient for killing your baby.

There’s a high possibility she was already dead.

I know of another case where a mother drowned her child in the bath. She took the body to a lake and faked a drowning scene and called emergency services pretending the child had drowned. She got four years. It’s appalling.

That's a bit of a silly question (albeit probably rhetorical). Child killers, paedophiles and people in the grip of severe addiction, to name just a few, can all have children. Why wouldn't that blow my mind?

I didn't suggest we should police who is allowed to procreate. I'm perfectly capable of recognising that doing so would be both practically impossible and incompatible with fundamental human rights.

I was simply pointing out the extraordinary contrast between the scrutiny involved in adopting a child and the complete absence of any assessment of someone's suitability to become a biological parent.

the poor tiny babe was only 3mths old, I wish I hadn’t thought of this; but how long would it take to die of that vile torture.💐RIP Dahlia-Rose.

And the judges view was that on the whole the care of the baby was ok. Not perfect, not ideal, but co sleeping and having a messy house isn't grounds for statutory intervention nor does it indicate that a baby is at risk of harm.

I would think the ignorance of history that's demonstrated by anyone suggesting forced sterilisation is a good idea is indicative that they should be a candidate really.

How does it blow your mind? Imagine the resources required to police who procreates.

I think it would be the difference between going to prison or Carstairs.

???. Mental illness wasn't relevant in her sentencing, the point was there wasn't anything unusual. The judge commented about there not being a background of abuse or neglect, if there had been it would have been longer, but only slightly due to what she was charged with (the range was referred to as 3-7, she got 6, it's in the judgement I posted on the previous page)

you want the government to start sentencing people now?? really??
there’s a reason why the courts and the justice system are independent of politicians….

Well obviously, but my point was there wasn't anything to indicate concerns before that night. Ordinarily if a member of the public reported a parent out with a young child and drunk the police would attend. I don't know the law in Scotland but here the police would use their powers to safeguard the child (either by contacting a relative to take care of them for the night, or if no-one, by handing them over to social services as a last resort)

So her sentence would've been longer had she been more mentally ill? Or shorter?

They were 'normal' enough that the judge took it into consideration in the sentencing. The mum had had some mental health issues including self harm, but that's hardly unusual.

There are huge numbers of people who have had shitty abusive childhoods. There are huge amount of people with mental health issues. And there are huge numbers with both.
None of which is an excuse or reason for burning your baby to death with a hairdryer.
The sentence is a complete joke and I think it's to do with the charge being culpable homicide and not murder.

What about the people who saw her steaming drunk with a baby in a pram. That is a missed opportunity, is it not?

Shocking!!!

The government should step in and reassess her sentence. I cried when I read what she did, having a baby is a gift, she’s pure evil. I hope to God that she never has more children when released, this is when enforced sterilisation comes to mind, she doesn’t deserve another chance, an evil, evil act.

Ok maybe, I haven't read up on it but find it hard to believe someone who took her baby on a bender then did this was perfectly normal the rest of the time

Missed opportunities for what? The judge said that on the whole she took good care of the baby until that night. There hasn't been any indication that there was anything going on that was hidden.

It still blows my mind that pretty much anyone can have a child, yet to adopt, you have to go through a lengthy process to prove you're capable of providing a safe and suitable home.

You can even face more checks before being allowed to adopt a cat or dog than you do before becoming a parent.

And we continue to see children dying at the hands of the very people who are supposed to love and protect them. It's absolutely horrifying.

The six years seems to be specific to the charge, and that it was deemed to be 'recklessness' rather than an assault. The reference in the judgement is a starting point of 4 years and a range of 3-7 depending on mitigating factors. I agree it doesn't seem to fit with the gravity of the crime though, I'm not sure if its because Scottish law is different, or if theres another reason the charge was one where the sentence was always going to be short?

It was a case of culpable homicide resulting from a high degree of carelessness or gross recklessness

https://judiciary.scot/home/sentences-judgments/sentences-and-opinions/2026/08/14/hma-v-courtney-gartshore

I don’t think she should be hanged. I do think she should be prevented from having any more children though.

That is absolutely hideous but no one in their right mind would do that. I haven't read in to the case and can't bear to read anymore than what was included in the op but I imagine, as with most cases like this, many opportunities were missed that could have prevented this.

she didn’t “purposefully murder” her baby though - not in the eyes of the jury, who heard the case and convicted her of culpable homicide (similar to manslaughter in the Scottish courts)
Im not saying it’s not awful - because clearly it is - but let’s at least try to be accurate

It’s such an unbearably awful case, that poor baby.

I’m taken aback by the sentence being so short.