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 died after jumping from a motorway bridge in Dundee in July 2023. The court found him guilty of culpable homicide and domestic abuse charges tied to multiple incidents at various locations in the city.
First of Its Kind in Scotland
This case marks the first time in Scotland a partner has been prosecuted for causing a death through domestic abuse, even though the victim took her own life. Prosecutors highlighted that Kimberly endured severe violence from Milne over 18 months before her death. During the trial, evidence revealed Milne’s pattern of coercive control, emotional abuse, and physical aggression.
Timeline of Abuse
The couple met in late 2021 and married in September 2022. Abuse escalated quickly, with incidents including a choking attack in early 2022. Kimberly described to police how Milne accessed her phone, saw messages from other men, and became enraged. “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,” she said.
“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.”
Months later, Milne pulled Kimberly by her hair, dragging her to the ground, then claimed he was “not that type of guy.” In late 2022, Kimberly learned of his alleged infidelity, leading to a violent confrontation where he hit her head, causing her to lose consciousness.
Final Moments
On the night of her death, Kimberly witnessed a couple arguing at a retail park. After shopping, she noticed them again, with Milne reportedly cornering his partner against a wall. Witnesses testified she appeared “cowering, scared” and unable to resist. CCTV footage showed her trailing behind Milne as he shouted and drove toward her.
Kimberly’s mother, Lynne Bruce, shared her account of the aftermath. “I was woken up by Lee at my door. He said something like Kim had gone. He came in and claimed she had crashed the car… He chased her to the bridge and tried to grab her hands. She shook her head before jumping off,” she recounted.
Broader Context
Det Chf Insp Craig Kelly, who led the investigation, praised the conviction. “He is a violent bully who demonstrated emotional and physical violence… The evidence clearly showed Kimberly was terrified of him,” he stated. Milne had previously been placed on the sex offenders’ register for sexually assaulting two boys in 2024.
COPFS called the case a “landmark” example of holding a partner accountable for a death linked to domestic abuse. Legal director Laura Buchan emphasized the complexity of the prosecution: “This case sought to answer whether a partner can be criminally responsible for a victim’s self-inflicted death following abuse.”
Similar cases in England include Nicholas Allen, who received a 10-year sentence in 2017 for manslaughter after his ex-girlfriend killed herself due to his controlling behavior. Steven Gane was jailed in 2018 for “driving his partner to suicide,” though an inquest later concluded his actions led to her unlawful killing.
