Man jailed for killing abused wife who jumped from bridge

Man Jailed for Killing Abused Wife Who Jumped From Bridge

Lee Milne, 40, received an eight-year prison sentence for the death of his wife, Kimberly Milne, 28, who perished after leaping from a motorway bridge in Dundee. The incident occurred in July 2023, when she was struck by multiple vehicles on the A90. Milne was convicted of culpable homicide and domestic abuse charges related to several properties in the city. This marked the first time in Scotland a partner was prosecuted for such circumstances, despite the victim’s decision to end her life.

Domestic Abuse and Control

Prosecutors highlighted that Kimberly endured severe mistreatment from Milne over 18 months before her death. The trial revealed that their relationship began in late 2021, culminating in marriage in September 2022. Abuse escalated quickly, with incidents including a chokehold in early 2022. Prior to her death, Kimberly recounted to police that Milne had accessed her phone, discovering messages from other men before they were in a relationship. This triggered his anger, leading to shouting and swearing at her.

“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.”

Further evidence showed Milne’s coercive tactics. Months later, he dragged Kimberly by the hair to the ground, then claimed he was “not that type of guy.” In late 2022, Kimberly alleged she uncovered Milne’s infidelity with other women, which prompted him to strike her on the head, causing her to fall unconscious. The case hinged on whether a partner could be criminally accountable for a death resulting from domestic abuse.

Witness Accounts and CCTV Footage

A witness described the night of Kimberly’s death, noting she observed a man and woman arguing. She then went shopping, only to see them again at a flooring store in Dundee’s Kingsway Retail Park. The man was said to be “trapping” the woman against the wall. The witness testified: “Cowering, scared. She did not really do much. There was not much she could do. It did not look like (she was responding to the man) – she was seeming too frightened.”

“Cowering, scared. She did not really do much. There was not much she could do. It did not look like (she was responding to the man) – she was seeming too frightened.”

CCTV footage displayed Kimberly retreating from Milne, who shouted at her as he drove toward her. She hid behind a wall, trailing slowly behind him. After her death, Kimberly’s mother Lynne Bruce shared her account of Milne arriving at her home the next morning. She stated: “I was woken up by Lee at my door. When I answered he said something along the lines of Kim has gone. I didn’t know what he was on about and he came in the house. He said something along the lines of Kim had pulled the steering wheel and crashed the car. He then said Kim had gone up to the bridge and he had chased her. He tried to grab her hands and she looked up at him, shook her head before jumping off.”

Broader Context of Domestic Abuse Cases

Det Chf Insp Craig Kelly, the lead investigator, praised the conviction, stating Milne was “a violent bully who demonstrated emotional and physical violence towards Kimberly and coercive control.” He emphasized that the evidence, including witness testimonies and video footage, illustrated “quite horrendous domestic abuse.” Milne’s lack of accountability was noted, as he shifted blame to Kimberly’s vulnerabilities.

While this case is Scotland’s first of its kind, similar convictions have occurred in English courts. In 2017, Nicholas Allen was jailed for 10 years after his ex-girlfriend died by suicide due to his controlling behavior. The trial in Stafford was the first manslaughter case linked to such circumstances. In 2018, Steven Gane was convicted for “driving his partner to suicide” through abuse, though the ruling came from an inquest. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) called Kimberly’s case a “landmark” example of holding abusers criminally responsible for their victims’ deaths.