Man Jailed for Killing Abused Wife Who Jumped from Bridge
Lee Milne has received an eight-year prison sentence for causing the death of his wife, Kimberly Milne, who took her own life by leaping from a motorway bridge. The 40-year-old was convicted of culpable homicide in the first such prosecution in Scotland. Kimberly, 28, died in July 2023 after being struck by multiple vehicles on the A90 in Dundee.
Abuse and Domestic Violence
Prosecutors revealed that the abuse began early in the relationship between Lee and Kimberly, which started in late 2021 and culminated in their marriage in September 2022. Over 18 months, Kimberly faced severe mistreatment, including being choked, pulled by the hair, hit, and subjected to verbal abuse. The court heard that Lee had also been convicted of sexually assaulting two young boys in 2024, leading to his placement on the sex offenders’ register.
“Kimberly was clearly terrified of Lee,” said police. “Her death resulted from her taking a step to escape him.”
Testimonies and CCTV footage showed Kimberly’s fear. During one incident in early 2022, Lee choked her, and later, he dragged her by the hair to the ground before apologizing, claiming he was “not that type of guy.” In late 2022, Kimberly discovered Lee allegedly cheating with other women, which triggered another violent outburst. He hit her on the head, causing her to fall unconscious.
On the night of her death, a witness observed Kimberly and a man arguing near a retail park. The woman was seen cowering, scared, and unable to respond as the man “trapped” her against a wall. “She did not really do much. There was not much she could do,” the witness testified. The footage also captured Kimberly hiding behind a wall and trailing slowly behind Lee as he drove toward her.
Victim Impact and Sentencing
Judge Lady Drummond emphasized the emotional toll of the abuse, noting that Kimberly’s family described her as a “one-in-a-million” individual. “Nothing I can say or do today will bring her back and ease their grief,” the judge stated. She added that Kimberly’s death was the result of her reaching a “point of despair” after Lee chased her to the bridge.
“Kimberly had pulled the steering wheel and crashed the car,” Lee claimed to his mother, Lynne Bruce, after her death. “She went up to the bridge and I chased her. She shook her head before jumping off.”
Det Chf Insp Craig Kelly, who led the investigation, praised the conviction. “Witnesses described Lee as a violent bully, and the evidence clearly showed emotional and physical abuse,” he said. “He never fully accepted responsibility and blamed Kimberly’s vulnerabilities instead.” While this was Scotland’s first case of its kind, similar charges have been seen in English courts, with Nicholas Allen previously jailed for 10 ye.
