Understand
Jury shown CCTV footage of fatal stabbing of UWE student in Bristol Crown Court
Overview
A jury at Bristol Crown Court has been shown CCTV footage of 23-year-old Zack Coughlan fatally stabbing his housemate and fellow University of the West of England student Jamie Collins, 21. The incident took place in the garden of their shared student house in Filton on 8 April. Coughlan admits killing Collins but denies murder, claiming he lost self-control.
Key points
- CCTV footage played at Bristol Crown Court captured Zack Coughlan, wearing black and a mask, ambushing and stabbing Jamie Collins in their shared house garden on 8 April.
- Both men were final-year robotics students at the University of the West of England and lived together in a house owned by Coughlan.
- Prosecuting barrister Rupert Russell stated Collins was attacked shortly before 18:00 BST after returning from university.
- After the attack, Coughlan fled, dumped the victim's bike, changed clothes, and disposed of bloodstained items before returning to the property at around 21:00 BST to call 999.
- Coughlan admits to the killing but denies murder, arguing that he lost his self-control.