Student Pleads Guilty to Housemate's Murder
Zack Coughlan admits to killing Jamie Collins after rent dispute; sentencing set for Wednesday.
Callum Smith
Zack Coughlan pleaded guilty to the murder of his housemate Jamie Collins.
Coughlan, 23, entered his plea at Bristol Crown Court for the killing of Collins, 21. Both men were final-year robotics students at UWE Bristol, sharing a home in Filton, South Gloucestershire.
The attack occurred shortly before 6pm on April 8, after Collins cycled home from university. CCTV footage from the shared house captured the incident.
Following the attack, Coughlan left his housemate to die outside. He then cycled away on the victim's bike, disposing of bloodstained clothing in a pond and buying new clothes; he also changed his shoes.
Coughlan returned to the house around 9pm, later dialling 999 to claim he had found Mr Collins’ body. Senior Investigating Officer Lucy Edgeworth stated that Coughlan admitted to lying in the hours and days after the murder.
The prosecution claims the pair had argued over the amount of rent Coughlan was charging Mr Collins. Adam Vaitilingam KC described the act as "a carefully planned and cold-blooded execution."
A carefully planned and cold-blooded execution.
Coughlan, who is half Danish and grew up in Cork, Ireland, moved to Bristol at 19. He claimed he stabbed Collins because he "had no choice" and feared Mr Collins would kill him.
Detective Chief Inspector Lucy Edgeworth noted that Coughlan made out he was scared of Jamie and said he lost control out of fear for his life. However, she questioned the veracity of his claims, stating that Coughlan lied continuously to protect himself.
Mr Justice Linden ruled that Coughlan's partial defence of manslaughter by reason of loss of control could not be considered by the jury. The third housemate heard nothing, which Senior Investigating Officer Lucy Edgeworth found unlikely if Coughlan's account was true.
Jamie Collins' family released a statement, describing him as "a bright, kind, gentle and unassuming young man with his whole life ahead of him." They added that he was looking forward to finishing his university journey and planning to return home to Swansea in a few weeks.
Lucy Edgeworth acknowledged the dispute about rent and differing political views but questioned their sufficiency as motives. She stated, "None of those things make any sense of why somebody would carry out such a horrific crime."
Coughlan will be sentenced on Wednesday morning.