Student 'Shocked' When Police Arrived After Alleged Housemate Stabbing, Court Hears

A university student accused of stabbing his housemate 30 times appeared "incredibly shocked" when police arrived at the scene, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Zack Coughlan, 23, is on trial for the murder of Jamie Collins, 21. Prosecutors allege Coughlan ambushed Mr. Collins in the garden of their shared home shortly before 6 p.m. on April 8. Coughlan accepts he killed Mr. Collins but denies murder.

The court heard that the pair had previously argued over rent. Mr. Collins, originally from Swansea, was allegedly stabbed repeatedly. The prosecution claims Coughlan left him to die in an alleyway and cycled away on Mr. Collins's bicycle, dressed in black and wearing a mask.

Charlie Latimer, a fellow housemate and student on the same robotics course, testified that he returned home from the supermarket around 7 p.m. the day before the incident and noticed the garden gate was open. He went to bed but woke around 1 a.m. and heard noises from Coughlan at approximately 2 a.m. He then heard "quite loud banging" on his door, which he assumed was Coughlan trying to wake him.

"I got to the kitchen," Mr. Latimer told the court. "I opened the back door and I could see some people in the back. This was the police. I could see that there was a body on the floor and around three or four people around them. They told me to stand back."

Mr. Latimer stated that police initially asked him about "James," which did not immediately register as Mr. Collins, known to friends as "Jam." Officers escorted Mr. Latimer and Coughlan out of the property and placed them into separate police cars. During his police interview, Mr. Latimer observed Coughlan and said, "I could see he was incredibly shocked."

Mr. Latimer described the three housemates as friends who studied together and enjoyed activities like shopping, cooking, board game nights, and video games. He characterized Mr. Collins as "very left-wing" but not prone to arguments over political views. However, he confirmed that Mr. Collins had a disagreement with Coughlan in late 2023 over rent, believing they were paying too much.

According to Mr. Latimer, Coughlan, who he described as mature and preferring civility, initially suggested not paying rent. He noted that Mr. Collins became standoffish and less inclined to socialize with Coughlan, viewing the rent as an insult among friends. The rent was subsequently reduced from £650 per month to £500, with the students then only contributing to household bills.

Mr. Latimer portrayed Coughlan as an "extroverted" and confident individual who organized social events and ran a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Under cross-examination, Mr. Latimer conceded that Mr. Collins might be described as having communist views and that he criticized large corporations, wealthy individuals, and landlords. Mr. Collins had been planning to move back to Wales after finishing his studies.

Jurors on Tuesday were shown CCTV footage of the incident, captured by a motion-activated camera at the house, and footage of Coughlan disposing of blood-stained clothing. Earlier, a cleaner at SGS College, Dawn Comley, told police she encountered Coughlan on the evening of April 8. She found him suspicious, carrying a bag with a jumper on top, and noted he appeared to be bleeding. Coughlan claimed he had cut himself climbing trees, a story Ms. Comley found unconvincing.

Police recovered clothing from a pond that had allegedly been worn by Coughlan during the attack. Coughlan, of Cleve Road, Filton, South Gloucestershire, denies murder. The trial continues.