Man jailed for killing abused wife who jumped from bridge

Lee Milne Jailed for Role in Wife’s Death After Bridge Leap

Lee Milne, 39, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for his involvement in the death of his wife, Kimberly Milne, who died after leaping from a motorway bridge in Dundee. The incident occurred in July 2023, when she was struck by multiple vehicles on the A90. Milne was convicted 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 held him accountable despite his wife’s actions.

Abuse Timeline Revealed

The trial uncovered a pattern of emotional and physical abuse spanning 18 months prior to her death. Milne and Kimberly married in September 2022 after meeting in late 2021. Prosecutors detailed how the abuse intensified shortly after their relationship began, culminating in the events leading to her fatal leap. Notably, an incident in early 2022 involved Milne choking Kimberly during an argument.

Kimberly recounted to police:

“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.”

Another attack occurred months later, during which Milne pulled her by the hair and threw her to the ground, later claiming he was “not that type of guy.”

Discovery of Infidelity and Final Incident

In late 2022, Kimberly learned her husband had allegedly been unfaithful with other women. According to testimony, Milne became enraged and hit her on the head, causing her to fall and lose consciousness. A witness described the night of her death, stating she spotted a man and woman arguing before going shopping. Later, the couple was seen at Kingsway Retail Park, where the man was reportedly “trapping” the woman against a wall.

“Cowering, scared. She did not really do much. There was not much she could do. It did not look like (she was responding to the man) – she was seeming too frightened.”

The witness’s account highlighted Kimberly’s vulnerability, as she appeared to be in a state of panic during the encounter.

Victim’s Mother Shares Testimony

Kimberly’s mother, Lynne Bruce, 54, gave a statement during the trial. She described how Milne arrived at her home the morning after her daughter’s death:

“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 said something along the lines of Kim had pulled the steering wheel and crashed the car. He then said Kim 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.”

Prosecution Highlights Systemic Abuse

Det Chf Insp Craig Kelly, who led the investigation, praised the verdict, stating:

“He is a violent bully who demonstrated emotional and physical violence towards Kimberly and coercive control. Witness testimony and CCTV evidence painted a picture of quite horrendous domestic abuse. Witnesses described him as being very aggressive, and it was obvious Kimberly was terrified of him. He never fully accepted accountability for his actions and tried to attribute blame to Kimberly’s vulnerabilities.”

This breaking news story is being updated. More details will be published shortly. Refresh the page for the fullest version. Stay informed with the BBC News App on your smartphone or tablet, or follow @BBCBreaking on X for real-time alerts.