Student accused of stabbing housemate 30 times in Bristol

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 15:19 · Archive

A 23-year-old university student is accused of stabbing his 21-year-old housemate 30 times in Bristol.

Zack Coughlan, 23, is accused of murdering his housemate Jamie Collins, 21, both studying robotics at the University of the West of England. Bristol Crown Court heard that Coughlan lay in wait for Collins in the garden of their shared home in Filton, South Gloucestershire, dressed entirely in black and wearing a mask and gloves. Collins was attacked shortly before 6pm on 8 April after returning from campus.

After the stabbing, Coughlan allegedly cycled away on Collins's bike, dumped it at a nearby retail park, purchased a change of clothes and threw his bloodstained clothing into a pond. He returned to the house at about 9pm, put a pizza in the oven and played online games with friends, the court was told. The attack was captured on CCTV installed at the house, which Coughlan showed to police who initially treated him as a witness.

At about 2am, eight hours after the attack, Coughlan called 999 claiming he had just discovered Collins's body in the garden. The prosecutor told the jury: 'A few hours later he decided it was time to call the police and pretend that he had just found his friend's body in the garden.' Coughlan had injuries to his hands but told police he had sustained them after falling while climbing trees.

How it is being reported

• Student 'ambushed university housemate, stabbing him 30 times to death following rows about rent', court toldZack Coughlan, 23, dressed all in black and wore a mask and gloves to ambush Jamie Collins, 21, in the garden of their home in Filton, South Gloucestershire.Daily Mail · 12 Oct, 16:01
• Student lay in wait for housemate before stabbing him 30 times, Bristol court hearsZack Coughlan is accused of murdering Jamie Collins, who he studied with at the University of the West of England A university student lay in wait for his housemate to return home before stabbing him 30 times, a murder trial has been told. Zack Coughlan, 23, dressed all in black and wore a mask and gloves to ambush Jamie Collins, 21, in the garden of their home near the University of West England in Bristol, where both studied robotics. Continue reading...Guardian World · 12 Oct, 15:04
• Student ‘lay in wait for housemate before stabbing him 30 times’Bristol Crown Court heard Mr Collins was stabbed repeatedly and Coughlan left him dying in the alleyway as he cycled away.Metro · 12 Oct, 14:38

In this story: Zack Coughlan · Jamie Collins · University of the West of England · Bristol · Filton · South Gloucestershire

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem