Trigger warning: This article contains references to physical abuse and suicide.
Lee Milne, 40, was sentenced to eight years in prison at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday for driving his wife to suicide with his abusive behaviour. He was found guilty of culpable homicide in March.
Milne’s 28-year-old wife Kimberly committed suicide by jumping from a bridge in Dundee, Scotland on July 27, 2023.
Lee was married to Kimberly for 18 months and he abused his wife both physically, emotionally, and financially.
This is the first case in Scotland where jurors were tasked with determining whether spouses were criminally responsible for their partner’s suicide.
CCTV footage shows abuse on the day of Kimberly’s suicide
Evidence of abuse was presented by prosecutors, in which Lee strangled, dragged, and punched his unconscious wife. CCTV footage from the day of Kimberly’s suicide showed Lee shouting at Kimberly in a Dundee supermarket before her death.
Another video showed Lee driving his car into Kimberley the same day and turning the car around to miss her at the last moment. Shortly afterwards he threw himself from a nearby bridge.
Prosecutor Laura Buchan said, “Lee Milne physically and psychologically abused Kimberly Bruce (Milne) and our evidence showed that this abuse was a significant contributor to her death.” “He knowingly and cruelly took advantage of Kimberly’s vulnerabilities, which makes him culpable for the decision to end her life.”
Lee sometimes locked Kimberly in his apartment without food and restricted her access to money.
Domestic abuse ‘escalates over time,’ judge says.
Judge Lorna Drummond said, “Domestic abuse is rarely about a single incident.” “It’s not just about violent acts, it includes more subtle, but still harmful, exercises of power and control in a relationship. And this escalates over time, each act, whether physical, psychological or financial, adding to the next, increasing pressure and fear, eroding confidence and independence.”
“According to the jury’s verdict, you are held responsible not only for all your outrageous acts but also for her death,” the judge said.
Kimberly’s sister said that she had urged her husband to leave her four months before his death, but Kimberly responded that Lee had threatened to “kill himself without me”.
The couple eventually broke up but were still seen together on the day of Kimberly’s death.
Kimberly Milne’s family members were in court at Lee’s sentencing. Kimberly’s family members said she was “one in a million” and they were “shocked” by her death.
Editor’s Note: If you are suffering from severe emotional stress or suicidal thoughts, do not hesitate to seek professional help. You can find information about where to get such help, no matter where you live in the world, on this website: https://www.befrienders.org/
Edited by: Alex Berry