Woman Faces Lifelong Restriction for Attempted Murder of Toddler Through Medication
A woman who attempted to murder a toddler by repeatedly administering adult medication is now confronting a rare life sentence, as she demonstrated no remorse throughout her trial. Laura Docherty, 35, was convicted of this heinous crime in December at the High Court in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Reckless Actions and Wicked Behavior
Judge Michael O'Grady KC described Docherty's actions as "utterly reckless and breathtakingly wicked", further labeling her as "dishonest, manipulative, and cunning". The court heard that from the age of two, Docherty gave the young girl antidepressant and painkilling drugs, which led to severe medical emergencies.
The child suffered seizures and episodes of reduced consciousness, requiring resuscitation, hospitalization, and placement on a ventilator. Judge O'Grady emphasized that Docherty was willing to discard the child's life "for nothing more than the drama of the moment, and the attention you seem to seek at every turn".
Carefree Social Media Posts During Trial
Despite the gravity of the charges, Docherty posted a series of carefree TikTok videos while standing trial for attempted murder. One video was captioned "#makemefamous", and another featured an eye-roll emoji with the text "court again". In additional clips, she lip-synced to songs like "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing and a dance remix of Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me", with captions such as "#court #screwedup".
Lack of Remorse and Psychiatric Assessment
Docherty, formerly of Glenrothes in Fife, denied any wrongdoing but was found guilty. During sentencing proceedings, her defense advocate, Simon Gilbride, stated that she "has no insight into her behaviour and accepts no responsibility for her actions". A psychiatric assessment revealed she suffers from an "emotionally unstable personality disorder".
Judge O'Grady expressed concerns over Docherty's "pathological desire for attention" and noted that she "shows no empathy" for the child, instead considering herself the victim. He highlighted that without medical intervention, she would likely have faced a murder charge.
Order for Lifelong Restriction and Case Details
Given the "many troubling aspects" of the case, Judge O'Grady requested an assessment for an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR), a life sentence typically reserved for the most serious non-murder cases in Scotland. The crimes occurred between April 2021 and February 2023 at locations including an Edinburgh address and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.
Judge O'Grady acknowledged Docherty's "troubled and unhappy life" but stressed, "Whatever your own trials and tribulations, whatever the turmoil in your own life, what you did to her was utterly wicked." He recalled the harrowing image of the child struggling to breathe in an ambulance, fighting for her life.
The case is scheduled to reconvene on June 16, 2026, for further proceedings regarding the potential lifelong restriction order.
