Robotics student admits murdering housemate Jamie Collins

5 News combines police bodycam and emergency-call audio to show how CCTV undermined the killer's account.

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5 News Story of October 21, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? The video opened at a pace of 170,841 views a day, 29 times a normal first day on this channel (5,905).

Robotics student stabbed flatmate to death – then rewatched CCTV of murder five times

5 News pairs police bodycam footage with a 999 call in which Jamie Collins' killer presents himself as a distressed friend reporting an attack.

Zack Coughlan has admitted murdering Collins, his housemate and fellow final-year robotics student at the University of the West of England. He changed his plea during his trial, having previously admitted killing Collins but denied murder on the grounds of losing self-control.

The report follows the unraveling of his account. In bodycam footage, Coughlan says he saw the gate open and does not know where the attacker went. An officer notices a nearby camera. A police investigator explains that inconsistencies in the CCTV account of a masked suspect led to Coughlan's arrest.

The accompanying description says jurors heard that he repeatedly watched footage of the killing. Police say the motive remains unclear: disputes over rent and differing political views do not explain the murder.

The Short reached about 116,000 views in its first 12 hours, far beyond the channel's usual Shorts audience.

It closes with a tribute from Collins' family. They remember his care for others and commitment to inclusion, and describe a promising student who was close to finishing his robotics degree.

Published on Trari