Full Breakdown
University Student Stabbed to Death in Bristol: Trial of Zack Coughlan
By Drooid · · How we work
The Stabbing and Court Proceedings
On April 8 a 23-year-old student, Zack Coughlan, ambushed his 21-year-old housemate Jamie Collins in the garden of their shared house on Cleve Road in Filton, near Bristol. CCTV shown at Bristol Crown Court captured Coughlan approaching Collins, stabbing him repeatedly, and later disposing of the victim’s bike at a nearby retail park. The prosecution says the attack left Collins with 30 stab wounds; Coughlan later suggested the count might have been higher. After the attack Coughlan returned home, cooked a pizza, played online games, and called police at about 02:00 on April 9. He admits killing Collins but denies murder, invoking a loss-of-control defence and claiming he feared for his life.
Background & Context
Both men were final-year robotics students at the University of the West of England (UWE). The three-bedroom house on Cleve Road was owned by Coughlan, who charged his housemates rent of £650 per month, later reducing it to £500 and eventually to zero. Coughlan said the reductions were to help friends, but the dispute persisted.
Data & Statistics
- Stab wounds: reported as 30; Coughlan later implied a higher count.
- Time of attack: shortly before 18:00 BST on April 8.
- Police call: approximately 02:00 on April 9.
- Rent charged: initially £650, later £500, then zero.
Official Statements & Responses
Prosecutor Adam Vaitilingam KC told the jury that “clear evidence” linked Coughlan to the killing and that he had initially been treated as a witness by Avon and Somerset Police. Police investigators highlighted the CCTV footage as decisive proof of Coughlan’s presence and actions. The defence, led by barrister Dan Pawson-Pounds, argued that the pond shown in the footage where Coughlan disposed of clothing was not the same pond where his blood-stained garments were later found.
Verbatim Quotes
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact wound count: most cite 30, while Coughlan’s later comment suggests he thought it was higher. The timing of the police call is given as “about 02:00” in some accounts and “02:00” in others. Defence counsel contested the identification of the pond used for disposing of clothing, creating a factual dispute for the jury. No independent forensic analysis of the wound count has been presented publicly.
Why It Matters
The case underscores challenges in shared student housing when financial disagreements arise and tests the legal boundaries of the loss-of-control defence in a homicide trial.
Court outcome: On April 14 2026 Coughlan formally pleaded guilty to manslaughter while continuing to deny murder, leaving the jury to decide whether the loss-of-control defence applies.