A man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for killing his wife, who took her own life after enduring prolonged domestic abuse, in a case described as a legal milestone. Lee Milne, 40, from Dundee, was found guilty of culpable homicide at the High Court in Glasgow last month, becoming the first person in Britain convicted by a jury of killing an ex-partner through abuse without physically causing her death.
Kimberly Milne, 28, died after jumping from a bridge over the A90 road in July 2023. The court heard that Milne subjected her to physical and psychological abuse, including choking, controlling her finances, and isolating her from her family. On the night of her death, witnesses saw a 'distraught' Kimberly 'trapped' in Milne's arms shortly before she fell, despite him being subject to bail conditions banning contact.
Sentencing Milne on Friday, Judge Lady Drummond imposed an additional three years on licence upon release, stating that an extended custodial sentence was necessary to protect the public. She noted that Milne posed a 'high risk of further offending' and had minimised aspects of his conduct. Kimberly's family wept in the public gallery as the sentence was delivered, with the judge describing her as 'one in a million'.
The conviction marks the first time a jury in Britain has reached such a verdict in a domestic abuse case, though similar cases have occurred in England. In 2017, stalker Nicholas Allen admitted manslaughter after his former partner hanged herself. Scotland's legal system differs from England and Wales, with culpable homicide akin to manslaughter.
Milne's defence argued that Kimberly had a history of mental health issues, including previous suicide attempts, and that Milne had suffered trauma from childhood neglect and witnessing his wife's death. However, the judge emphasised that Kimberly had reached 'a point of despair' on the night she died, and Milne knew she was distressed.
