A student who stabbed his housemate more than 30 times in a masked ambush has changed his murder plea to guilty.
Zack Coughlan, 23, attacked Jamie Collins, 21, in an alleyway near the garden of their home on 8 April and then left his body outside for eight hours before calling police.
A murder trial had been under way at Bristol Crown Court because Coughlan initially denied the charge, although he did admit killing Collins. He told jurors he stabbed Collins because he feared his housemate would kill him after a dispute over rent.
However, Coughlan has now changed his plea to guilty and will be sentenced for murder on Wednesday.
During his trial, Coughlan said he stabbed his former friend because he felt he “had no choice”.
His defence focused on him saying he was scared of his housemate, telling jurors he was “barely able to think” when he decided to wait for Collins to return home from university before stabbing him repeatedly.
After attacking him, Coughlan left his housemate to die outside before cycling away on the victim’s bike to dispose of bloodstained evidence and clothing.
