Man jailed for killing abused wife who jumped from bridge
Man Jailed for Killing Wife Who Jumped from Bridge After Abuse
Lee Milne, 39, received an eight-year prison sentence for the murder of his wife, Kimberly Milne, 28, who died after leaping from a motorway bridge in Dundee in July 2023. The incident occurred when she was struck by multiple vehicles on the A90, leading to her fatal injuries. Milne was convicted of culpable homicide and domestic abuse charges, marking the first prosecution in Scotland of its kind where the accused was held responsible despite the victim’s self-inflicted act.
Domestic Abuse Spanned 18 Months
Prosecutors highlighted that Kimberly had endured severe domestic violence from Milne over an 18-month period preceding her death. The trial revealed the couple met in late 2021 and married in September 2022, with abuse escalating shortly after their relationship began. One notable incident involved Milne choking her in early 2022, as recounted during police interviews. She described how Lee had accessed her phone, discovered messages from other men, and reacted with anger, 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.”
Additional evidence showed Milne’s controlling behavior, including pulling Kimberly by the hair to the ground months later before apologizing, claiming he was “not that type of guy.” In late 2022, Kimberly revealed she had found out about her husband’s alleged infidelity with other women. It was reported that Milne became enraged and struck her on the head, leading to her loss of consciousness.
Witness Accounts Highlight Frightened Behavior
A witness testified that on the night of Kimberly’s death, she observed a man and woman arguing. The woman later went shopping, only to see the pair again at a Dundee retail park. The witness described the man as “trapping” the woman against a wall, noting she appeared “cowering, scared” and “did not really do much.” The testimony suggested she was too frightened to act, indicating a pattern of coercion.
Kimberly’s Mother Testifies About the Scene
Kimberly’s mother, Lynne Bruce, 54, shared that Lee arrived at her home the morning after her daughter’s death. He claimed Kimberly had pulled the steering wheel and crashed the car, then insisted he had chased her to the bridge. According to her account, he reached for her hands as she looked up, shook her head, and jumped off the edge.
Det Chf Insp Craig Kelly, who led the investigation, stated he was pleased Milne was “behind bars, where he should be.” He emphasized the man’s history of emotional and physical abuse, describing him as a “violent bully.” Testimony and CCTV footage depicted Kimberly as visibly terrified, with witnesses confirming her vulnerability to Milne’s aggressive tactics. The detective noted that Milne never fully admitted fault, instead blaming Kimberly’s “vulnerabilities” for the tragedy.
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