Man jailed for killing abused wife who jumped from bridge

Man Sentenced for Homicide After Abused Wife’s Death

Lee Milne, 39, has received an eight-year prison term for the killing of his wife, Kimberly Milne, 28, who died after jumping from a motorway bridge. The incident occurred in July 2023 on the A90 in Dundee, where she was struck by multiple vehicles. Milne was convicted of culpable homicide and domestic abuse following a trial that marked the first of its kind in Scotland, as he was held accountable despite his wife’s action of jumping.

The prosecution highlighted that Kimberly endured severe violence from Milne over 18 months before her death. During the trial, evidence revealed the couple met in late 2021 and married in September 2022. The abuse began shortly after their relationship, culminating in the tragic event. Prior to this, Milne had been convicted of sexually assaulting two boys in 2024 and listed on the sex offenders’ register.

Domestic Abuse and Controlling Behavior

Witness accounts and CCTV footage illustrated a pattern of coercive control and emotional distress. One incident involved Milne choking Kimberly in early 2022, while another saw him pull her by the hair to the ground before apologizing, claiming he was “not that type of guy.” In late 2022, Kimberly revealed she had discovered Milne allegedly cheating on her, which triggered a violent outburst. He hit her head, causing her to fall unconscious, according to testimony.

“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,” Kimberly told police before her death.

On the night of her death, a witness reported seeing Kimberly and a man arguing. She later went shopping, only to encounter the pair again at Dundee’s Kingsway Retail Park. The witness described the man as “trapping” the woman against a wall, with her appearing “cowering, scared” and unable to act decisively.

“It did not look like she was responding to the man—she was seeming too frightened,” the witness stated.

Testimony and Accountability

Kimberly’s mother, Lynne Bruce, 54, provided a statement detailing Milne’s behavior after the incident. 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 claimed Kim had pulled the steering wheel and crashed the car. Then he said she 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.”

Det Chf Insp Craig Kelly, who led the investigation, emphasized Milne’s role as a “violent bully” who used emotional and physical abuse against Kimberly. He noted that the evidence, including CCTV footage, depicted “horrendous domestic abuse.” Witnesses described Milne as highly aggressive, with Kimberly clearly terrified. Kelly also pointed out that Milne never fully admitted responsibility, instead blaming her vulnerabilities.

Support for Victims

If you or someone you know has experienced domestic abuse or violence, assistance is available through BBC Action Line.