Domestic abuser jailed in landmark Scotland case after wife took her own life

A domestic abuser who was convicted of killing his wife after she jumped to her death from a road bridge has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Kimberley 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 campaign of abuse by her husband Lee Milne, 40, who was found guilty of her death at Glasgow High Court in March.

He was also convicted of engaging in a course of abusive behaviour towards her.

It's the first prosecution of its kind in Scotland.

In the hours leading up to his wife’s 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.

He 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 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.

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.

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.”

At the High Court in Glasgow today (April 10, 2026), Lady Drummond also gave Milne to 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 that 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.”

Dr Marsha Scott, CEO of Scottish Women's Aid, has welcomed the sentencing, saying: "This is the beginning, we hope, of a really progressive period in Scotland's criminal justice system which recognises the horrible murders and suicides which happen in far greater numbers related to the fear and terror that abusers commit."

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