University robotics student jailed for 28 years after ambushing housemate and stabbing him 30 times in row over rent

A UNIVERSITY student who waited for his housemate to return home before stabbing him 30 times following a row over rent has been jailed for life.

Zack Coughlan, 23, was told to serve a minimum term of 28 years after he ambushed Jamie Collins, 21, in the garden of their home near Bristol on April 8.

He had dressed in black and worn a mask before lying in wait for 20 minutes for Mr Collins, a robotics student. 

Following the 'ferocious' murder, Coughlan cycled off on his housemate's bike to dispose of bloodstained evidence, leaving his former friend dying in an alleyway. 

He went on to eat a pizza and play games online knowing Mr Collins' body was lying at the bottom of the garden waiting to be discovered. 

When he finally called police eight hours later he pretended he had just found Mr Collins and was filmed sobbing in front of police officers. 

He claimed cuts on his hands were from climbing trees.  

The two students, both in their final-year at the University of the West of England, lived together in a property owned by Coughlan but were said to have 'different political views' and also rowed over the cost of the rent.

Coughlan had denied murder but changed his plea to guilty on Tuesday part way through a trial at Bristol Crown Court. 

Jailing Coughlan, Judge Mr Justice Linden said Mr Collins 'was an idealist who took an interest in the problems of the world and society'.

'It comes with great shock that anyone could do what you chose to do to him,' he said. 

'I'm sure you were planning to kill Collins and had been for some time.

'Your guilty plea came at a point in the trial when your conviction was inevitable.'

During the trial, Coughlan claimed he was fearful of Mr Collins, saying he had threatened to kill him and therefore he had 'no choice' but to wait for his housemate to return from university and stab him repeatedly.

Judge Linden said: 'I do not accept your evidence that he did or said anything that made you believe he would be violent towards you in any way.

'Your evidence about these conversations was at odds with other evidence about Collins, that he was a gentle soul who was averse to conflict and confrontation.' 

The attack was caught on CCTV installed at the house, which Coughlan showed the attending police officers who initially treated him as a witness.

The defendant's blood had been found on Mr Collins's bike, and analysis of his mobile phone matched the killer's movements afterwards captured on CCTV.

Adam Vaitilingam KC, prosecuting, told the jury: 'This was a carefully planned and coldblooded execution.'

Coughlan dumped the bike at a nearby retail park, bought a change of clothes and threw his bloodstained clothing in a pond, in carrier bags weighed down with bricks.

He returned to the house they shared in Cleve Road at about 9pm, put a pizza in the oven and played online games. At around 2am, Coughlan dialled 999 claiming he had just found Mr Collins's body.

Coughlan is half Danish and grew up with his family in Cork, Ireland, before moving to Bristol to study robotics at the age of 19.  

The court has heard tensions between the two students mounted over rent as Mr Collins voiced his disdain for landlords and blamed multinational corporations for social inequality.

Coughlan suggested he was driven to kill Mr Collins, originally from Swansea, after his left-wing views become more targeted and personal.

In a statement issued following the guilty plea, Mr Collins's family said his death had 'affected our family in a deep, profound, and lasting way'.

'We have had to explain repeatedly to people what has happened. Every time we do so it reinforces the pain of him having been killed so suddenly, and in such a senseless and brutal way.'

They said Mr Collins had almost completed his degree and had two pieces of coursework to finish when he died.

'Jamie was a sensitive and caring young man. His passion for equality stood out to everyone who knew him,' they added.

Detective Chief Inspector Lucy Edgeworth said: 'Zack Coughlan repeatedly lied in order to protect himself and finally admitted his guilt yesterday after months of denial.

'He has received a life sentence for the ferocious murder he committed and will serve a minimum of 28 years behind bars.

'The court proceedings may have concluded today, but it's important to recognise the pain Jamie's family and friends have experienced does not sadly magically disappear.

'They are a wonderful family and have shown incredible courage and dignity across the past six months, both during our investigation and sat in court every day too.

'The trial has heard a lot of distressing evidence about Jamie's final days. I hope that going forward people remember Jamie for the young man he was – a bright young student, who was loved by all who were lucky to know him.'