Man jailed for killing abused wife who jumped from bridge

Man Jailed for Killing Wife After She Jumped from Bridge

Lee Milne, 40, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the death of his wife, Kimberly Milne, 28, who jumped from a motorway bridge in Dundee. The incident occurred in July 2023, when she was struck by multiple vehicles on the A90. Milne’s conviction marks a significant legal precedent in Scotland, as he was held accountable despite his wife’s own action of taking her life.

Domestic Abuse and Legal Charges

The court found Milne guilty of culpable homicide and domestic abuse charges related to several incidents in the city. Prosecutors highlighted that Kimberly had endured severe violence from Milne over an 18-month period before her death. The abuse escalated from emotional manipulation to physical attacks, including an incident in early 2022 where he choked her.

Before her death, Kimberly described to police how Milne had accessed her phone and seen messages from other men. She recounted his anger and accusations, stating:

“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.”

Other assaults involved Milne pulling her by the hair and apologizing, claiming he was “not that type of guy.”

Witness Testimony and CCTV Evidence

A witness reported seeing Kimberly in an argument with a man and woman at Kingsway Retail Park in Dundee. She later spotted them again, describing the man as “trapping” the woman against a wall. The witness noted:

“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 presented during the trial showed Kimberly visibly shaken by Milne as he drove toward her. She was seen retreating behind a wall and trailing him slowly, unable to escape the situation. The evidence, combined with witness accounts, painted a grim picture of her fear and vulnerability.

Mother’s Statement and Prosecution Remarks

Kimberly’s mother, Lynne Bruce, 54, testified that Milne visited her home the day after her daughter’s death. She recounted:

“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.”

Det Chf Insp Craig Kelly, who led the investigation, praised the conviction, stating:

“He is a violent bully who demonstrated emotional and physical violence towards Kimberly and coercive control. Witnesses described him as being very aggressive, and it was obvious Kimberly was terrified of him. He never fully accepted accountability for his actions and tried to attribute blame to Kimberly’s vulnerabilities.”

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) called the case “landmark,” emphasizing its importance in defining criminal responsibility for domestic abuse-related deaths. While similar cases have been heard in English courts, this was the first in Scotland to charge a partner for causing a victim’s death through abuse.

Comparisons to Previous Cases

Milne’s conviction aligns with cases where domestic abuse led to fatal outcomes. In 2017, Nicholas Allen was jailed for 10 years after his ex-girlfriend killed herself due to his controlling behavior. The Stafford case was the first manslaughter trial in such circumstances. In 2018, Steven Gane was convicted of “driving his partner to suicide” through abuse, though the ruling came from an inquest.

These precedents underscore the growing recognition of coercive control and emotional abuse as contributing factors to violent incidents. Milne’s case provides a legal framework for Scotland to address such scenarios in the future.