University Student Sentenced to Life for Murdering Housemate Over Rent Dispute

A university student has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 28 years for the murder of his housemate. Zack Coughlan, 23, ambushed and stabbed Jamie Collins, 21, approximately 30 times in the garden of their shared home near Bristol on April 8.

Coughlan had dressed in black, worn a mask, and lay in wait for Mr. Collins, a fellow robotics student at the University of the West of England. Following the fatal attack, Coughlan disposed of bloodstained evidence before returning to the house. He then ate pizza and played online games, aware that Mr. Collins's body was in the garden.

Eight hours after the murder, Coughlan contacted the police, claiming to have just discovered his housemate's body and feigning ignorance of the events. CCTV footage from the house captured the attack. Coughlan initially presented himself to police as a witness, showing them the footage and claiming hand cuts were from climbing trees.

The two students, both in their final year at the University of the West of England, reportedly clashed over rent payments. Coughlan owned the property they shared. While Coughlan claimed he killed Mr. Collins out of fear, asserting that Collins had threatened him, the judge did not accept this testimony.

Judge Mr. Justice Linden stated that he was not convinced by Coughlan's evidence regarding threats, noting that other testimony described Mr. Collins as a "gentle soul who was averse to conflict and confrontation." The judge concluded that Coughlan had planned the murder and that his guilty plea, entered midway through the trial, came when a conviction was inevitable.

Prosecutor Adam Vaitilingam KC described the act as a "carefully planned and coldblooded execution." Coughlan had dumped Mr. Collins's bicycle at a retail park, purchased new clothing, and discarded his bloodstained attire in a pond. He later called emergency services around 2 a.m., reporting the discovery of the body.

Mr. Collins's family issued a statement expressing the profound and lasting impact of his death, highlighting the senseless and brutal nature of the killing. They remembered him as a sensitive, caring young man passionate about equality. He was reportedly close to completing his degree at the time of his death.

Detective Chief Inspector Lucy Edgeworth commended Mr. Collins's family for their courage and dignity throughout the investigation and court proceedings. "He has received a life sentence for the ferocious murder he committed and will serve a minimum of 28 years behind bars," Edgeworth stated.