Student Admits Murder of Housemate After Initial Not Guilty Plea

Zack Coughlan, 23, has pleaded guilty to the murder of his housemate, Jamie Collins, 21. The change in plea came during an ongoing trial at Bristol Crown Court, where Coughlan had initially denied the charge but admitted to killing Collins.

The fatal attack occurred on April 8, when Coughlan ambushed Collins in an alleyway near their shared residence. Coughlan inflicted more than 30 stab wounds before leaving Collins' body outside their home for eight hours. He then contacted the police.

During the trial, Coughlan had claimed he acted out of fear, stating he believed Collins would kill him following a dispute over rent. His defense argued he felt he had no choice and was in a state of panic when he attacked Collins after the victim returned from university. Coughlan testified that he was "barely able to think" at the time of the incident.

Following the stabbing, Coughlan left the scene, disposing of evidence and clothing he claimed were bloodstained. He admitted to cycling away on the victim's bike. Upon returning home, he reportedly ate pizza and played video games to "disconnect." He did not call emergency services for another eight hours. Court documents revealed that Coughlan later rewatched CCTV footage of the attack multiple times, stating he wanted to "make sense of what was happening and disconnect."

Detective Chief Inspector Lucy Edgeworth described the killing as a "pre-planned, cold-blooded execution," noting that the motive remained unclear despite Coughlan's claims about political differences and fears for his own life. Edgeworth highlighted inconsistencies in Coughlan's account, including a dubious explanation for hand injuries and a failure to mention changing his shoes, which contradicted his statements.

Jamie Collins, a student at the University of the West of England (UWE), was described by his family as "gentle" and "kind." He had been anticipating the completion of his university studies and a return to his home in Swansea in the coming weeks.

Coughlan is scheduled to be sentenced for murder on Wednesday.