Every day on Criminal Record we will be bringing you a round-up of the biggest crime stories of the day.
If you love to read about crime in Scotland – this is the place to be every day.
Here’s what has been making the news across the country on Sunday.
Baby killer mum launches freedom bid
A mum who killed her baby daughter by blasting her with a hairdryer has launched a legal bid to be freed from prison. Courtney Gartshore was jailed for six years this month after being convicted of culpable homicide over the death of three-month-old Dahlia-Rose.
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 tot had died.
Now Gartshore, the sole parent listed on Dahlia-Rose’s birth certificate, has instructed her legal team to challenge both her conviction and the sentence.
An “intimation of intention to appeal” has been lodged at the High Court of Appeal in Edinburgh, with Gartshore given to October 20 to file papers setting out grounds for her appeal.
But the move has sparked fury among those close to Dahlia-Rose’s family, who have accused Gartshore of showing a “total lack of remorse”.
READ MORE: Evil Scots mum who killed baby daughter with hairdryer launches prison freedom bid
Ex-solider who stabbed fellow pensioner dies in prison
An OAP who murdered a fellow pensioner he believed had sexually abused a woman has died in jail. Richard Cassidy, 79, stabbed David Furnish 14 times in the savage attack at this home in the Scottish Borders in February 2016.
The former soldier was sentenced to 17 years in prison at the High Court in Glasgow in June of 2017. The Scottish Prison Service announced Cassidy died at HMP Shotts on June 26.
Cassidy suffered a heart attack and stroke while in custody but prison bosses have yet to reveal the cause of death. The court heard that after the murder, Cassidy himself contacted the police and handed himself in.
Cassidy’s defence lawyer Brian McConnachie explained that Cassidy went to visit Parish, 74, at his home and tried to get a confession out of him but had no plans of killing him.
He said the killing was a “moment of madness”, but he described the circumstances as “unique”. McConnachie said most people found it “hard to understand” that the then-70-year-old would be capable of murder.
READ MORE: Ex-soldier who stabbed fellow pensioner 14 times in ‘moment of madness’ dies in jail
Claire Inglis’ parents still waiting for answers five years after murder
The parents of murdered mum Claire Inglis have revealed they are still waiting to be told if there will be a fatal accident inquiry into their daughter’s death.
Christopher McGowan battered, burned and strangled Claire six weeks after being freed to live at the flat she shared with her son. He had 39 convictions, including aggravated domestic assault, but was still bailed to Claire’s Stirling home three times.
After her death, an expert social work report found Claire and her son were “invisible in the system”. But Ian and Fiona Inglis only received a brief summary of the report and have been left fighting for answers for five years.
They want a fatal accident inquiry to expose the failures that contributed to their daughter’s death and ensure vital lessons are learned to protect other women.
Fiona, from Stirling, said: “Claire died five years ago in November and we are still in limbo. We have met Crown officials, we have even met with John Swinney. We have written letters and banged every door.
READ MORE: Murdered Claire Inglis’ parents still waiting on answers about FAI into her death
Minnie Merriman’s mum thanks people for ‘incredible support’
Minnie Merriman’s mum said the ‘humanity and support’ shown to her after her daughter’s tragic death will remain with her as she fights for justice.
The schoolgirl died at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee on August 3 after being found seriously injured at Elliot Industrial Estate in the town. The nine-year-old had been camping with her family in the area at the time.
Three other family members were also taken to hospital. Her dad Christopher Rice, 35, remains in custody after appearing at Forfar Sheriff Court charged with murder.
Last week, locals in Arbroath lined the streets as a private ambulance carrying Minnie’s body stopped off at the town’s Victoria Park before travelling to Yorkshire for a private funeral service.
Minnie’s mum, Laurie, stood surrounded with family as the ambulance was escorted into the park by bikers before balloons were released into the sky.
On Saturday night, the devastated mum took to social media to thank the people of Arbroath for supporting her through the ‘worst time in her life.’
Man dies after hit and run in Linlithgow
A man has died after a hit and run in the early hours of this morning in Linlithgow.
The 48-year-old male pedestrian was struck by a grey Renault Clio on the town’s Main Street at around 12.20am on Sunday morning, August 30.
Emergency crews scrambled to the scene but sadly the man could not be saved and was pronounced dead by medics. His next of kin have been made aware.
Police Scotland has launched a desperate appeal to trace the occupants of the Clio.
READ MORE: Man dies after midnight hit-and-run in Scots town as police hunt driver
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