Man jailed for killing abused wife who jumped from bridge
Man Sentenced for Death of Wife After Bridge Incident
A 39-year-old man has received an eight-year prison term for the death of his wife, Kimberly Milne, who died at 28 after being struck by multiple vehicles on the A90 motorway in Dundee in July 2023. The conviction follows a trial where Lee Milne was found guilty of culpable homicide and domestic abuse charges tied to several incidents in the city. This marked the first time in Scotland that a case of this nature was prosecuted, as the court determined Milne’s responsibility despite his wife’s decision to jump from the bridge.
Background and Abuse Timeline
The couple met in late 2021 and married in September 2022. Prosecutors highlighted that the abuse began shortly after their relationship started, escalating over 18 months. Among the reported incidents was a chokehold attack in early 2022. Prior to her death, Kimberly told police that Milne had accessed her phone, discovered messages from other men, and became enraged, shouting at her. She described feeling trapped in the situation.
“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 the hair, forcing her to the ground, then later apologized, claiming he was “not that type of guy.” In late 2022, Kimberly revealed she had learned of her husband’s alleged infidelity with other women. This triggered a violent outburst, during which Milne hit her head, causing her to fall and lose consciousness.
Testimony and Evidence
A witness recounted seeing Kimberly argue with Milne on the night of her death. She went shopping but later spotted the couple at Dundee’s Kingsway Retail Park. The witness noted Milne was “trapping” the woman against the wall, with her appearing frightened and unable to defend herself. CCTV footage showed Kimberly cowering as Milne shouted at her, leading her to hide behind a wall before following him as he drove toward the bridge.
Accountability and Aftermath
Kimberly’s mother, Lynne Bruce, provided a statement describing how Milne arrived at her home the morning after the incident. He claimed Kimberly had pulled the steering wheel, causing a car crash, before chasing her to the bridge. According to her, he tried to grab her hands as she looked up, shook her head, and then jumped off the edge. The trial also revealed that Milne had been placed on the sex offenders’ register in 2024 for sexually assaulting two boys.
Det Chf Insp Craig Kelly, who led the investigation, stated that Milne’s guilt was evident through witness accounts and evidence. “He is a violent bully who used emotional and physical abuse to control Kimberly,” the detective said. “The witnesses clearly saw her fear, and Milne never fully admitted fault, blaming her vulnerabilities instead.” Support services for domestic abuse victims are available via BBC Action Line.
