2026年4月10日 / 美国东部时间上午10:21 / 美联社
金伯利·米尔恩于2023年7月在苏格兰跳楼身亡，但检方在周五的一起标志性案件中表示，她是在丈夫的身体虐待下才走上绝路的。
40岁的李·米尔恩在格拉斯哥高等法院被判过失杀人罪和虐待行为罪名成立，随后被判处八年监禁。这是苏格兰检方首次要求陪审团认定施虐配偶对自杀受害者的死亡负有责任。
“李·米尔恩对金伯利实施了身体和心理虐待，”检察官劳拉·布坎说道。“他蓄意且冷酷地利用了金伯利的脆弱之处，这让他对她结束自己生命的决定负有过失责任。”
检方出示了证据，证明李·米尔恩在两人18个月的婚姻生活中，对金伯利实施了身体、情感虐待和控制行为，最终导致她于2023年7月27日在苏格兰邓迪离世。
米尔恩曾掐住妻子的脖子、殴打她、拖拽她、限制她的行动、拳打她并将她打晕。他还贬低她，试图让她与家人疏远。他限制她获取金钱和交通工具的渠道，还将她锁在公寓里不给食物。
“家庭暴力很少只发生一次，”法官洛娜·德拉蒙德说道。“这不仅关乎暴力行为，还包括一段关系中更隐蔽但同样有害的权力与控制手段。这种虐待会随时间累积，每一次行为——无论是身体、心理还是财务上的——都会叠加。不断升级的压力和恐惧，会逐渐侵蚀受害者的自信与独立。”
金伯利的家人在法庭宣读的声明中表示，他们对这位“深受爱戴”的女儿、姐妹和姑姑的离世感到悲痛欲绝。
在28岁的金伯利去世四个月前，她的姐姐曾劝她离开丈夫。
“如果他说过没有我他就活不下去，我怎么能离开他，”她回短信说道。
到她去世时，米尔恩已经和妻子分居，但在金伯利生命的最后一天，有人在监控录像中看到两人在一起。
在一段录像中，可以看到她的丈夫在停车场从身后驾车朝她疾驰而来，在最后一刻才打方向盘避开她。随后他调转车头再次朝她撞去，最后才踩下刹车。
不久之后，她走到附近的一座桥上，纵身跳下高速公路下方。
“根据陪审团的裁决，你不仅要为你所有的虐待行为负责，还要为造成她的死亡负责，”德拉蒙德说道。
如果您或您认识的人正处于情绪困扰或自杀危机中，可拨打或发送短信988联系988自杀与危机生命线。您也可以在此处与988自杀与危机生命线在线聊天。
Abusive husband in Scotland gets 8 years in prison for wife’s death by suicide
April 10, 2026 / 10:21 AM EDT / AP
Kimberley Milne jumped to her death in Scotland in July 2023, but prosecutors in a landmark case said Friday that she was driven to do it by her husband’s physical abuse.
Lee Milne, 40, was sentenced to eight years in prison following his conviction in Glasgow’s High Court for culpable homicide and engaging in abusive behavior. It was the first case in which Scottish prosecutors asked jurors to find an abusive spouse responsible for the death of a victim who takes their own life.
“Lee Milne physically and psychologically abused Kimberly,” prosecutor Laura Buchan said. “He deliberately and ruthlessly exploited Kimberly’s vulnerabilities, which makes him culpable for her decision to end her own life.”
Prosecutors presented evidence of the physical and emotional abuse and control that Lee Milne exerted during their 18-month married life leading up to the death on July 27, 2023, in Dundee, Scotland.
Milne had grabbed his wife by the neck, choked her, dragged her around, restrained her, punched her and knocked her unconscious. He belittled her and tried to distance her from family. He limited her access to money and transportation and locked her in their apartment without food.
“Domestic abuse is rarely about one incident,” Judge Lorna Drummond said. “It’s not only about violent acts, it includes more subtle, but nonetheless as harmful, exertions of power and control in a relationship. And it builds over time, each act, whether physical, psychological or financial, adds to the next. Increasing pressure and fear, eroding confidence and independence.”
The family said in a statement read in court that they were devastated by the death of the “much-loved” daughter, sister and aunt.
Four months before she died at age 28, Kimberly Milne was encouraged by her sister to leave her husband.
“How can I leave him if he’s saying he’s gonna do himself in without me,” she texted back.
By the time of her death, Milne had split up with his wife, but the two were seen together on surveillance video on Kimberly Milne’s final day.
In one video, her husband can be seen speeding his car at her from behind in a parking lot and swerving to miss her at the last moment. He then turned and drove at her before hitting the brakes.
A short while later, she walked to a nearby bridge and threw herself on the highway below.
“By the jury’s verdict, you must bear responsibility not only for all of your abusive acts, but also for causing her death,” Drummond said.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here.
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