Lee Milne, 40, from Dundee, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the culpable homicide of his wife, Kimberly Milne, who took her own life in July 2023. The case is the first in Britain where a jury has convicted a person of killing an ex-partner through prolonged domestic abuse, despite not physically causing the death.
The High Court in Glasgow heard that Milne subjected Kimberly to repeated physical and psychological abuse, including choking, controlling her finances, and isolating her from her family. When she tried to end the relationship, he threatened to kill himself. On the night of her death, witnesses saw a “distraught” Kimberly “trapped” in Milne’s arms near a bridge over the A90 road, from which she fell.
Sentencing Milne on Friday, Judge Lady Drummond said an extended custodial sentence was the “only appropriate disposal” to protect the public and punish him. She noted that Milne posed a “high risk of further offending” and had “continued to minimise” aspects of his conduct. He will serve an additional three years on licence after release.
Kimberly’s family, who described her as “one in a million”, wept in the public gallery as the sentence was delivered. The judge acknowledged their devastation, stating, “Nothing I can say or do today will bring her back or ease their grief.”
The court heard that Milne had met Kimberly on the night of her death despite bail conditions banning contact. Police had been investigating domestic abuse allegations for months, with Kimberly previously telling a mental health nurse of “mental torture” and physical abuse. In one incident, she slept with a knife under her pillow out of fear.
Milne’s defence argued that Kimberly had a history of mental health issues and previous suicide attempts. However, the judge concluded that Kimberly had “reached a point of despair” and that Milne knew she was “in distress”. The conviction marks a legal milestone, as Scotland’s culpable homicide offence is similar to manslaughter in England and Wales.
