Abusive husband jailed for killing wife who jumped from bridge

A man has been jailed for eight years after being convicted of killing his wife, who jumped to her death from a road bridge following a campaign of domestic abuse, in a landmark prosecution in Scotland.

Kimberly Milne, 28, died after being struck by vehicles when she jumped on to the A90 in Dundee on July 27 2023.

She had been subjected to an 18-month abusive ordeal by her husband Lee Milne, 40, who was found guilty of causing her death at the High Court in Glasgow in March.

Jailing Milne at the same court on Friday, Lady Drummond also handed him a three-year extended sentence, meaning he will be on licence following his release.

In a victim impact statement from her family, the court heard Ms Milne was “a much-loved daughter, sister, aunt, and they are devastated by her death”.

The judge said: “Nothing I can do or say can bring her back or ease their grief.”

She said that by July 27, Milne had split up with his wife and she was “in distress and having difficulties that day”.

Lady Drummond continued: “Your response to her that day – driving erratically and at speed whilst she was in the car with you, shouting at her and throwing an item at her, acting aggressively and intimidating her – was further abuse carried out by you at a time when she was in a fragile state.”

The judge continued: “(She) reached a point of despair such that she climbed over the barrier of a road bridge and fell to her death.

“By the jury’s verdict, you must bear responsibility not only for all of your abusive acts, but for causing her death.”

The prosecution of Milne is the first of its kind in Scotland.

The Crown Office said it is the first time an offender has been held criminally responsible for the suicide of their partner.

Prosecutors said Milne “ruthlessly” exploited his wife’s vulnerabilities during his campaign of abuse, which made him “culpable for her decision to end her own life”.

He was convicted of culpable homicide and engaging in a course of abusive behaviour towards his wife.

In the hours leading up to her death, Milne had acted in an aggressive and intimidating manner towards her.

This included driving erratically when she was in a car with him, shouting at her and seizing hold of her, which put her in a significant state of fear, distress and alarm.

Milne, who is from Dundee, was also found guilty of a number of domestic abuse offences committed against Ms Milne between January 2022 and July 2023.

These included physically and verbally abusing her, coercing her to move in with him and marry him, attempting to cut off her contact with friends and family, and controlling her finances.

On one occasion in November 2022, Milne became angry when his wife asked to be taken home and struck her, causing her to fall and hit her head on a wall, knocking her unconscious.

On an occasion in May the following year, Milne seized her by the throat when she asked to be taken home, and choked her and shouted at her, causing her to run to another room and barricade herself in with a table.

After forcing himself in, he repeatedly punched and bit her, and threatened to hit her with a mirror that he then threw against a wall.

Members of Ms Milne’s family were present in court for sentencing.

Police said Ms Milne’s family had “dealt with her tragic loss with great dignity”.

Detective Chief Inspector Craig Kelly said: “Our investigation found that (Milne’s) behaviour in the time leading up to Kimberly’s death was truly shocking and placed his partner in such fear that she took a course of action to get away from him which led to her death.

“She was very clearly terrified of him on that night. It is a tragedy that she lost her life as a consequence.

“Our investigation also uncovered a series of domestic offences against Kimberly over an extended period of time, exposing him as a cruel, manipulative and violent man.

“Our officers are determined to ensure women and girls live free from violence and abuse. We are relentless in our focus on tackling domestic abuse.”