Husband Sentenced to Eight Years for Abusive Actions Leading to Wife’s Tragic Death

A husband who relentlessly abused his wife, ultimately leading her to leap to her death from a bridge, was captured on CCTV hurling insults and attempting to run her over just hours before the tragedy.

Lee Milne, aged 40, has been found guilty of the culpable homicide of 28-year-old Kimberly Milne. Kimberly lost her life after being hit by several vehicles on the A90 in Dundee on July 27, 2023.

For 18 harrowing months, Kimberly endured a torrent of abuse from Milne, who was sentenced to eight years in prison at Glasgow High Court today.

Disturbing CCTV footage from Kimberly’s final hours revealed Milne’s aggressive conduct immediately preceding her suicide.

The footage showed Kimberly shrinking away from Milne as he yelled at her, holding her head in distress, and trying to escape as he menacingly drove his vehicle towards her.

Kimberly resorted to hiding behind a wall to escape him and was seen trailing slowly behind Milne as he continued berating her in the moments before her death.

As the pair exited a supermarket, Kimberly could be seen holding her hand to the side of her head in pain while Milne screamed and gesticulated at her.

Other footage showed him driving directly at her and skidding past at speed, with only inches to spare. 

They were later seen walking onto a flyover bridge, where Kimberly climbed the barrier of the overpass and jumped to her death.

Today Judge Lady Drummond handed down an 11-year sentence, which includes a three-year extended licence upon Milne’s release. 

At trial, Milne was also found guilty of a number of domestic abuse offences committed against Ms Milne between January 2022 and July 2023

Lee Milne, 40, was sentenced to eight years in prison today over his wife’s death and various domestic abuse offences he had committed against her

Milne was captured on CCTV footage appearing to berate his wife shortly before her death at a Dundee supermarket

CCTV footage showed Kimberly exiting Milne’s car in the hours before her death, before he would drive at her and skid pass with just inches to spare

In a victim impact statement, her family described Kimberly as ‘a much-loved daughter, sister, aunt’, and added they are ‘devastated by her death’.

Sentencing, the judge said: ‘Nothing I can do or say can bring her back or ease their grief.’

It is understood to be the first prosecution of its kind in Scotland.

A message sent by Kimberly to her sister suggested she had wanted to leave Milne, but he had threatened to harm himself if she did so.

‘How can I leave him if he’s saying he’s gonna do himself in without me?’ she asked. 

Her mother, Lynne Bruce, 54, gave a statement to police describing how Milne turned up at her home the morning after Kimberly’s death and told her that her daughter was gone.

‘I was woken up by Lee at my door. When I answered he said something along the lines of Kim has gone,’ she said.

A witness told the court she had seen a man and a woman appearing to have an argument shortly before Kimberly’s death. 

She later saw the same couple outside a flooring store at the Kingsway Retail Park in Dundee, and described how the man was ‘trapping’ the woman against the wall. 

At trial, Milne 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, coercion, attempting to cut off her contact with friends and family, and controlling her finances.

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

In May 2023, Milne seized her by the throat when she asked to be taken home, choked her and shouted at her, causing her to run to another room and barricade herself in with a table.

After forcing his way into the room he repeatedly punched and bit her, and threatened to hit her with a mirror that he then threw against a wall.

Kimberly Milne, 28, died after being struck by multiple vehicles on the A90 in Dundee on July 27, 2023

Following his conviction, Detective Chief Inspector Craig Kelly said: ‘Our thoughts are with Kimberly’s family and friends following this verdict. They have dealt with her tragic loss with great dignity and hopefully this outcome will provide a degree of closure.

‘This was an extremely complex investigation and involved very close work with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to ensure that Lee Milne has been held accountable for causing the death of Kimberly.

‘Our investigation found that his 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. It will not be tolerated, and perpetrators will be held accountable.’

Prosecutor Laura Buchan, Scotland’s Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Legal Director, said: ‘This prosecution sought to answer a complex question – can a partner be held criminally responsible for the death of a victim who has taken their own life following a course of domestic abuse?

‘Lee Milne physically and psychologically abused Kimberly Bruce and our evidence showed that this abuse was a significant contributing factor in her death.

‘He deliberately and ruthlessly exploited Kimberly’s vulnerabilities which makes him culpable for her decision to end her own life.

‘His coercive and controlling behaviour escalated throughout the relationship. On the night that Kimberly died, his abuse was carried out in full public view.

‘Our prosecution demonstrated how women can become trapped in relationships in webs created by an abuser.

‘Today we are thinking of the family and friends of Kimberly who have suffered such a terrible loss and unimaginable trauma.’

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