• Woman convicted of attempted murder of child
• She gave her adult medications over two years

A court in Edinburgh convicted a British woman of attempting to kill a young girl by repeatedly giving her medications intended for adults.

According to details, 35-year-old Laura Docherty gave the child antidepressants and painkillers, leading to the child requiring resuscitation and being placed on a ventilator.

During the trial, Docherty denied attempting to kill the child, but the jury found her guilty unanimously.

The court described the evidence as “disturbing and extremely shocking.”

Investigations revealed that the crime continued from April 2021 to February 2023 and took place at multiple locations, including a home in Edinburgh and a ward in the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.

Docherty administered medications not prescribed to the child, causing seizures and temporary loss of consciousness, forcing doctors to perform resuscitation and hospitalize her for necessary medical tests.

Judge Michael O’Grady stated that Docherty’s life had been “full of problems and unhappiness,” adding that this did not justify her actions toward the child, calling them “absolute evil.”

The judge emphasized the difficulty of forgetting the child’s image as she struggled to breathe in the back of the ambulance.

The court ordered Docherty to be remanded pending sentencing, while the judge requested a background report on her life. Defense lawyer Simon Gilbride explained that a prior report by a psychiatrist assessed her fitness to stand trial.