A man convicted of causing the death of his wife, who took her own life after repeated domestic abuse, has been jailed for eight years in what is being seen as a significant legal milestone in Scotland.
Lee Milne was sentenced after a court found him guilty of culpable homicide in relation to the death of his estranged wife, Kimberly Milne. She died in July 2023 after jumping from a bridge.
The case has drawn attention because of its legal significance and the way the court dealt with the connection between domestic abuse and a victim’s death by suicide. Milne was convicted last month following a trial at the high court in Glasgow.
Kimberly Milne was 28 when she died. The case has been described as landmark because of the conviction and the sentence imposed, which follow a prosecution that linked her death to the abuse she had suffered.
Lee Milne’s eight-year sentence closes a case that has been closely watched in Scotland. It comes after a high court jury found him guilty of culpable homicide, marking an important moment in the legal treatment of domestic abuse cases involving suicide.
Support is available
If this story has affected you or someone you know, support is available. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247.
In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 988 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In Australia, Lifeline is available on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org.
