Zack Coughlan jailed for life for killing housemate Jamie Collins

Zack Coughlan, 23, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 28 years for the murder of his housemate Jamie Collins, 21. Mr Justice Linden passed the sentence at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday 21 October 2026, according to The Guardian.

The minimum term is the period a prisoner must serve before he can be considered for release. Avon and Somerset Police said Coughlan will serve at least 28 years, less the time he spent on remand, meaning in custody before his trial. Avon and Somerset Police reported the sentence.

The killing took place in the garden of the two men's shared home in Filton, South Gloucestershire. Both were students at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol, where they studied robotics. Collins was attacked shortly before 6pm on 8 April 2026, after cycling home from the university.

Prosecutor Adam Vaitilingam KC told the court that Coughlan had lain in wait, dressed in black and wearing a mask and gloves. Collins was stabbed 30 times, according to The Guardian. The attack was captured on CCTV installed at the house.

Coughlan called 999 at about 2am, saying he had found Collins's body in the garden. Vaitilingam described the killing as carefully planned and cold-blooded. He initially denied murder, but changed his plea to guilty after a trial had already begun at Bristol Crown Court.

Coughlan had told the court that Collins had previously threatened him. The judge rejected that claim, describing Collins as a gentle soul.

Avon and Somerset Police described Collins as a student and said Coughlan had been handed a life sentence for his death.