A 23-year-old university student lay in wait for his housemate before carrying out a sustained knife attack that left the victim with 30 stab wounds, prosecutors told Bristol Crown Court. The attack has been characterized by the prosecution as a meticulously orchestrated and calculated killing.
Zack Coughlan dressed entirely in black clothing and concealed his face with a mask before ambushing Jamie Collins, 21, in the garden of their shared residence in Filton, near Bristol, on 8 April. Collins, who was from Swansea according to court records, had just returned from his studies at the university when the assault occurred.
Following the attack, Coughlan abandoned Collins dying in an adjacent alleyway and fled the scene on the victim's bicycle to dispose of evidence bearing his blood. Upon arriving back at the property, he prepared a meal, engaged in online gaming with acquaintances, and only then contacted emergency services. Coughlan has acknowledged responsibility for Collins' death and entered a guilty plea to manslaughter, but maintains his innocence regarding the murder charge.
The attack and immediate aftermath
Both men were final-year students at the University of the West of England (UWE) studying robotics, and Coughlan owned the house where they resided together. The assault took place shortly before 18:00 BST as Collins returned from campus.
After leaving the scene, Coughlan disposed of Collins' bicycle at a nearby shopping centre, purchased replacement clothing, and deposited his blood-soaked garments into a body of water. He arrived back at their residence on Cleve Road around 21:00, the court was informed.
Adam Vaitilingam KC, the lead prosecutor, explained to the jury that approximately eight hours later, at around 02:00, Coughlan dialled 999 and reported that his friend had been stabbed. Emergency responders instructed him to perform chest compressions until paramedics could arrive, which he claimed to do. Armed police officers subsequently attended the scene and discovered Collins' body in the rear garden of the property.
When questioned by officers, Coughlan provided an account stating he had been at a local park and had only recently returned home. He claimed to have noticed the rear gate standing open, prompting him to investigate the garden, where he said he discovered Collins lying injured.
Evidence against the defendant
Security cameras installed at the shared residence captured the entire incident on film. Coughlan voluntarily showed this footage to investigating officers, who initially regarded him as a witness rather than a suspect.
Subsequent forensic analysis revealed that Coughlan's blood was present on the victim's bicycle, according to evidence presented at the hearing. Additionally, examination of Coughlan's mobile telephone records correlated with the movements visible in the CCTV footage following the killing.
Coughlan presented injuries to both hands, which he attributed to climbing trees earlier that evening. However, Vaitilingam told the jury: "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. And so, Zack went from being a witness to a suspect in the murder."
Motive and relationship between the men
Vaitilingam informed the court that prior disagreements had existed between the pair concerning rental payments and whether Coughlan was charging excessive amounts. These tensions had subsequently been resolved, however. "There was nothing that any of the friends were aware of that seemed to be a significant problem," he stated.
He further noted that the two men had socialised regularly as part of what appeared to be an ordinary student existence. The prosecution anticipates that Coughlan's defence will argue he lost emotional control following comments Collins had made over preceding days and weeks that caused him to fear for his safety.
Vaitilingam countered this characterization, telling jurors: "Far from being out of control, Zack was very much in control of what he did, and you will see that as we show you his movements in the hours and minutes before he killed Jamie."
The victim's memory
Collins' family previously offered a tribute describing him as a
"bright, kind, gentle and unassuming young man with his whole life ahead of him"according to family statements.
What happens next
Coughlan pleaded not guilty to the murder charge when he appeared at Bristol Crown Court on 19 June. The trial is scheduled to commence on 12 October 2026 and is anticipated to continue for between two and three weeks.
