Man jailed for killing abused wife who jumped from bridge
Man Jailed for Killing Abused Wife Who Jumped From Bridge
Lee Milne, 40, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the death of his wife, Kimberly Milne, 28, who took her own life by leaping from a motorway bridge in Dundee in July 2023. The prosecution marked this as Scotland’s first trial of its kind, as Milne was held accountable despite Kimberly’s final act of self-harm.
Kimberly’s death occurred after she was struck by multiple vehicles on the A90. The court found Milne guilty of culpable homicide and domestic abuse across several locations in the city. Prosecutors highlighted the 18-month history of abuse, including incidents of physical violence and psychological manipulation.
“Lee and I were in his home and he went through my phone. He saw messages from other men before we were together. He got angry and started to shout and swear at me.”
Testimony revealed that the couple met in late 2021 and married in September 2022. Abuse escalated quickly, with Milne choking Kimberly during an early 2022 incident. He later apologized, claiming he was “not that type of guy” after yanking her by the hair and pushing her to the ground. In late 2022, Kimberly alleged he had been cheating with other women, prompting a violent outburst that left her unconscious.
A witness recounted seeing Kimberly argue with Milne on the night of her death. She went shopping, only to encounter the couple again at a retail park. The witness described Milne as “trapping” Kimberly against a wall, with her appearing “cowering, scared” and unable to respond. “There was not much she could do,” the account noted.
CCTV footage from the trial showed Kimberly visibly trembling as Milne shouted at her, driving toward her before she hid behind a wall and followed him hesitantly. Kimberly’s mother, Lynne Bruce, 54, testified that Milne arrived at her house the day after her daughter’s death. “I was woken up by Lee at my door. He said something along the lines of Kim had gone,” she stated. “He came in and claimed she had pulled the steering wheel, crashed the car, and then jumped to her death after he chased her.”
Det Chf Insp Craig Kelly, leading the investigation, emphasized the severity of the case. “He is a violent bully who demonstrated emotional and physical violence toward Kimberly and coercive control,” he said. “Witnesses described him as very aggressive, and it was clear Kimberly was terrified of him.” The legal director of Scotland’s Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) called the trial a “landmark case,” addressing the question of whether a partner can be criminally liable for a death resulting from self-harm under prolonged domestic abuse.
Similar cases in England have been prosecuted, but this marked Scotland’s first instance. Nicholas Allen received a 10-year sentence in 2017 for manslaughter after his ex-girlfriend killed herself due to his controlling behavior. In 2018, Steven Gane was jailed for “driving his partner to suicide” through abuse, though an inquest later confirmed his responsibility for her unlawful death.
