Lee Milne has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the culpable homicide of his wife, Kimberly Milne, who took her own life after enduring prolonged domestic abuse. The 40-year-old from Dundee is the first person in Britain convicted by a jury of killing an ex-partner despite not physically causing her death.
Kimberly Milne, 28, died in July 2023 after jumping from a bridge over the A90 road. The High Court in Glasgow heard that Milne subjected her to repeated physical and psychological abuse, including choking, controlling her finances, and isolating her from her family. On the night of her death, witnesses saw Kimberly “trapped” in Milne’s arms shortly before she fell.
Sentencing Milne on Friday, Judge Lady Drummond said the offence required an extended custodial sentence to protect the public and punish him. She noted that Milne had known his wife was “in distress” and had continued to minimise aspects of his conduct. He will serve an additional three years on licence upon release.
In mitigation, defence counsel Mark Stewart KC pointed to Kimberly’s history of mental health issues and Milne’s own childhood trauma. However, Lady Drummond ruled that Milne posed a “high risk of further offending”, describing his abuse as “not only physical”. The court heard that Milne had repeatedly choked and attacked Kimberly, and had once spat in her mouth after checking her phone.
Kimberly’s family hugged and cried in the public gallery as the sentence was delivered. Lady Drummond read their victim impact statements, describing Kimberly as “one in a million” and noting their devastation. The case marks a significant legal milestone in Britain, highlighting the link between domestic abuse and suicide.
