Student Accused of Stabbing Housemate 30 Times After Rent Disputes

A university student is on trial accused of stabbing his housemate 30 times to death following rows about rent. Zack Coughlan, 23, allegedly wore black clothing, a mask, and gloves to ambush Jamie Collins, 21, in the garden of their shared home in Filton, South Gloucestershire.

Coughlan and Mr. Collins were final-year students at UWE Bristol and lived together in a house owned by Coughlan. Prosecutors told Bristol Crown Court that the pair had argued over the amount of rent Coughlan was charging Mr. Collins.

Mr. Collins was reportedly stabbed shortly before 6 p.m. on April 8, after returning from university where he and Coughlan studied robotics. Coughlan is accused of leaving Mr. Collins to die in the alleyway and cycling away on his housemate's bicycle.

Coughlan, of Cleve Road, Filton, admits to killing Mr. Collins but denies murder. He is alleged to have abandoned the bike at a nearby retail park, purchased a new set of clothes, and disposed of his bloodstained clothing in a pond. He reportedly returned to the house around 9 p.m., made pizza, and played online games with friends.

Adam Vaitilingam KC, prosecuting, stated that Coughlan later called emergency services, claiming to have discovered his friend's body in the garden. "At about 2 a.m. – eight hours later – the defendant called 999," Vaitilingam told the jury. "He said that his friend had been stabbed."

Armed police arrived and found Mr. Collins's body in the back garden. According to the prosecution, Coughlan told officers he had been at the park and had just returned home, discovering the body after noticing the back gate was open.

The attack was captured on CCTV at the shared house, footage that Coughlan reportedly showed to the initial responding officers, who treated him as a witness. The prosecution contends that the masked attacker was Coughlan. Evidence presented includes Coughlan's blood found on Mr. Collins's bike and mobile phone data that allegedly matches the movements of the killer as seen on CCTV.

"The investigation showed clear evidence that it was Zack who had been the man who had waited for Jamie and then stabbed him to death before cycling away," Vaitilingam said. Coughlan was subsequently arrested and interviewed by police.

Coughlan sustained injuries to his hands, which he attributed to climbing trees and falling. While the court heard of previous disagreements regarding rent, prosecutors stated that these issues had been resolved and friends were unaware of any significant ongoing problems between the pair. The trial is ongoing.