Student accused of stabbing housemate to death after rent disputes, jury told
A university student is on trial for murdering his housemate. Zack Coughlan, 23, is accused of ambushing Jamie Collins, 21, outside their shared home in Filton, South Gloucestershire, and stabbing him 30 times to death. Both were final year students at UWE Bristol living in a house owned by Coughlan. The pair had previously rowed over rent payments, although the prosecution suggests recent disagreements had been resolved.
The attack occurred shortly before 6pm on 8 April as Collins returned from university. Coughlan, dressed entirely in black with a mask and gloves, stabbed Collins and cycled away on his victim's bicycle before disposing of the bike and blood-stained clothing. Upon returning home around 9pm, he put pizza in the oven and played online games before calling emergency services at 2am, eight hours after the attack, saying he had just discovered Collins's body in the garden. CCTV footage, blood evidence on the bicycle and mobile phone tracking analysis all linked Coughlan to the crime.
- University student charged with stabbing housemate 30 times to death.
- Coughlan fled by bicycle and delayed calling police for eight hours.
- CCTV, blood and phone tracking evidence linked suspect to attack.
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A murder trial is under way in England following a fatal incident involving two university students. Both men were final year students at UWE Bristol who shared a privately rented house in the South Gloucestershire area. Student housing commonly involves young people living together in shared arrangements, which can create interpersonal tensions.
Disagreements between student housemates often centre on financial matters such as rent payments and household expenses. These disputes are a fairly typical feature of shared student housing, though they are usually resolved without serious consequences. The two men involved in this case had previously had disagreements over rent matters related to their shared home.
The fatal incident has resulted in a criminal trial being heard in court. The proceedings will examine what occurred and establish responsibility for the death. Such serious incidents arising from shared housing arrangements are relatively uncommon in the student housing context.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Student ‘ambushed university housemate, stabbing him 30 times to death following rows about rent’, court told”.