Student stabbed to death was 'gentle', say family

The family of university student who died from multiple stab wounds have described him as a "bright" and "unassuming young man" who had his "whole life ahead of him".

Jamie Collins, 21, was found dead in the garden of an address on Cleve Road, Filton, in Bristol, in the early hours of Thursday.

Describing him as "gentle" and "kind", Collins' family said he was "looking forward to finishing his uni journey" at at the University of the West of England (UWE) and returning home to Swansea "in just a few weeks' time".

On Sunday, police officers arrested fellow student Zack Coughlan, 23, who lived with Collins. He was later charged with murder and appeared before Bristol Crown Court on earlier.

"Words cannot describe how we are feeling as a family right now," Collins' family said.

"We know he was heading for a hugely successful future following his engineering and robotics degree," they added.

The family said while it had been an "excruciating time", the "outpouring of love and support from Jamie's friends and ours" had been "completely overwhelming".

"We would like to thank everyone for their kind messages while we continue to grieve privately," they added.

UWE said Collins, a robotics student, was an "active member of student societies".

"The university is deeply shocked by the news of our student Jamie's death in such distressing circumstances," it added.

Coughlan will next appear at Bristol Crown Court on 19 June, with a provisional trial date set for 12 October.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.