The defendants on trial accused of murdering five-year-old Logan Mwangi were "behaving like rats in a bag, fighting each other to the end, intent on forcing attention away from themselves", the prosecuting barrister told the court.
Ms Caroline Rees QC was delivering her closing speeches at the trial of Logan's mother Angharad Williamson, 31, of Lower Llansantffraid, Sarn, Bridgend, and stepdad John Cole, 40, of Maesglas, Ynysawdre, Bridgend, who both deny his murder. A third defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons due to his age, has also pleaded not guilty to murder and all are on trial at Cardiff Crown Court.
The Crown says Logan had been subjected to a “brutal and sustained assault” prior to his death and suffered the kind of injuries usually seen in car crash victims before his body was dumped in the River Ogmore. All three defendants are also accused of perverting the course of justice including moving Logan’s body to the river near Pandy Park, removing his clothing, washing bloodstained bed linen, and making a false missing person report to police. You can get more court news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Read more : Follow our detailed live coverage of the case here
Williamson and the youth pleaded not guilty to both offences while Cole denied murder but admitted perverting the course of justice. Williamson and Cole were also charged with causing or allowing the death of a child, which they both denied.
Both the prosecution and the defence cases have now closed. On Monday, April 11, the jury heard Judge Nerys Jefford issue legal directions in the case. Mrs Justice Jefford began by telling jurors they must reach their verdict on the evidence alone - and cast aside any of their emotions.
Later, Ms Rees delivered her closing speeches.
She said: “Each of the defendants in this case John Cole, Angharad Williamson and (the youth) are guilty of murder and also perverting the course of justice.
“At the time of Logan’s Mwangi’s death at the end of July 2021, he was just five-years-old. We know from the evidence of the pathologist he was just three foot five inches tall and weighed three stone and one pound.
“Teachers and family who knew him remember him as a smiling, cheerful little boy who was polite and eager to please. We can I suggest on behalf of the prosecution, add to that list of qualities. He must have been a brave little boy.
“Behind the smile he showed the outside world and behind the closed doors of 5 Lower Llansantffraid he endured a home environment in which he was not treated with the loved and affection which he deserved.
“Life in the months, weeks and days leading to his death must have been a real struggle for Logan who, even on his own biological mother’s own evidence, sunk to the bottom of the pecking order of that family in that small flat.
“We say he was punished harshly, made to do press ups to teach him a lesson, made to stand in the naughty corner for extensive periods of time, forced to watch others eating takeaway while he was made to eat cereal as punishment.
“He was, on the evidence of neighbours, shouted at regularly by John Cole and Angharad Williamson. We say he was treated roughly by those who acted as his parents during a period he was experiencing entirely natural and commonplace feeling of insecurity and jealousy.
“The fact Logan stammered, wet himself and harmed himself by pinching and biting his lip until he bled was a source of annoyance and irritation to the adults in the dock. Another reason to be angry and cross with him rather than showing love and understanding he should have been able to take for granted.
“In the 10 days before Logan’s body was discovered he had been kept like a prisoner in his small bedroom in the flat you saw, a room likened by Williamson as a dungeon, curtains closed and a barred child gate to stop him from exiting and moving about . The little boy was made to face the wall as food was delivered to him…..What must he have thought about the way life was in those 10 day?
“The prosecution say Logan was dehumanised by the defendants in this case, treated like disposable rubbish in life, just as you know he was in death when his lifeless body was flytipped like rubbish by John Cole in the River Ogmore.
“Each one of the three defendants is guilty of the murder of Logan and each one played their part in the cover up of his death. We say each one of them participated in the assault on him with at the very least to do serious physical harm.”
The prosecutor referred to the evidence of the three medical experts who gave evidence in the trial.
In reference to the 56 external injuries Logan suffered, Ms Rees said: “This is evidence that a young child has been physically abused and that must have been happening behind the closed doors of number 5 Lower Llansantffraid while he was in the care of the adult defendants in this and in the presence of (the youth). We suggest it beggars belief not one of the defendants in this case would not have been aware of how extensive injuries to Logan were at the time of his death, not one asking questions how it came to be so many non-accidental injuries had been suffered by him.
“They didn’t need to because they knew the fact of the injuries and had been caused deliberately in acts of abuse. If you accept the defendants knew about those injuries it begs the question why not one of them knew how it came to be Logan was in that state.
“Why did not one of those defendants do anything to get help for injured Logan or some assistance for the situation he was in. Why are they all, even now, in this trial denying this was physical abuse? There’s a powerful motive for each of the defendants to keep quiet and that’s because they were involved in the infliction of those injuries and are trying to protect themselves and putting their interests first.”
Ms Rees then turned to Logan’s internal injuries to his abdomen and head.
She said: “Injuries as severe as this are consistent with a high velocity collision or a fall from a great height. There is no live issue these injuries were committed deliberately in an assault on number five. It was one of the defendants who inflicted the injuries that killed Logan.
“It gives rise to the inference all three defendants are responsible. We say their deliberate attempts to distance themselves from all that is because those injuries are evidence to say each and every one of them participated in the final attack. The prosecution says consideration of the material evidence means this is the only inference in this case.”
Ms Rees continued: “We are told Logan would have experienced pain on infliction of those injuries and if conscious would have exploded in a scream out in or make a noise.
“Ladies and gentlemen he would have been in agony, someone would have noticed it. It would have been obvious to any person who witnessed Logan he had sustained serious injuries and required medical attention.
“It tells you much about each defendant involved in Logan’s death not one of them picked up the phone to the doctors or ambulance, not one of them called for help considering there were social workers, friends and family available. Why? What more powerful motive could there be not to seek help than to cover up what really happened because one is responsible for such injuries and not wanting to be found out.
Ms Rees referred to John Cole’s dislike of Logan.
She said: “It’s suggested John Cole disliked Logan because he reminded him of Ben Mwangi and Angharad Williamson’s relationship with him. On two occasions he said he didn’t love or like Logan…Even if he hadn’t have opened his mouth, it would have been obvious from his behaviour towards Logan he did not hold him in any affection."
She then turned to Angharad Wiliamson’s character and behaviour.
She said: “We the prosecution say Angharad Williamson is a liar who will try any stunt or trick to avoid her true personality being on display. She tried to portray herself as a loving mother, overprotective of Logan and his needs.
“This was a total sham, she’s been exposed by the trial process to be a selfish woman whose only protected interests are for herself. Even she accepted she had been in her words a ‘s*** mum’ to Logan, a rare moment of truth in the course of her time in the witness box.”
With regard to the youth defendant, she added: “The prosecution say when you are reminded of the evidence concerning (the youth) it proves he equally participated in both the murder of Logan and the cover up afterwards.
“We say the evidence of his behaviour before, during and after the death of Logan is compelling evidence to prove his guilt to counts one and three.
“At only 13-years-old (the youth) had already made his impact on those unfortunate enough to cross his path. The prosecution say the evidence you have heard shows him to be a violent child, cruel and manipulative with the use of his baby voice if he needed to get out of trouble.
“He had a fascination with death and killing and a penchant for cruelty to those more vulnerable than himself. Even Cole said he had a history of a lack of empathy for others.
Ms Rees said the court previously heard the youth had told someone he wanted to kill Logan a week before his death. She said: “Five days later his wish had come true….. He wanted him dead so he made it so.”
She said CCTV footage proved no defendant had told the police or the jury the truth about what had happened the night of Logan's death.
She said: “Despite Angharad Williamson’s insistence she was asleep, her phone was active during the periods she says she was asleep and viewing YouTube videos of a type she would have enjoyed, the Pimple Popper type videos.
“She also appears to activate the dialler app. Rather than admitting the truth she chooses to lie and pretend she was fast asleep.
At 2.43am, John Cole and the youth were seen leaving 5 Lower Llansantffraid carrying Logan’s body.
Ms Rees said: “It’s absolutely clear (the youth) must have seen John Cole was carrying Logan’s body, you know how close to each other they were. Why would (Cole) involve him in removing the body unless he was part of the team that inflicted the injuries on Logan that night.”
The prosecutor said Cole’s account of him finding Logan was was an “obvious lie” and referred to the fact he had threatened to kill Logan twice in the days leading up to his death.
Ms Rees refers to the alleged cover-up.
She said: “The 999 call is all a sham and all put on and all an act. There are little tells in that call that show (Williamson) was putting on a show….
“Why, if she was telling the truth about the events on Thursday and Friday, did she not link what had happened with Cole and (the youth).
“The body worn footage of the behaviour from Angharad Williamson and the other two defendants, that was a pantomime put on to deceive police and onlookers. If you hadn’t have seen the CCTV of the curtain opening and the light shining in the room while Angharad Williamson was the only person up in the house, you could well have been duped into believing that performance was genuine but you have seen the full picture now and know better than to fall for it.
“Despite all the wailing and howling, did you notice any tears flowing from her eyes? She’s gone on and on about Logan being cold before she was told he was found in the river. She says he is maybe suffering with hypothermia, at that point having no idea how long Logan had been missing. Why would she say he was cold when she had no idea of the circumstances."
Ms Rees also referred to Cole and Williamson giving evidence in the trial.
She said: “Giving evidence exposed them both as abusive parents and the liars they are. The prosecution say although both Cole and Williamson stood in that witness box and repeatedly told you they were not guilty, their efforts in giving evidence did nothing more than confirm both were guilty.
“You are able to be sure both of them together with (the youth) participated in the murder of Logan and deliberately covered it up.
“You have heard many weeks of evidence in this trial, you as a jury have paid great care and attention to the evidence which in some places has been complex and in others distressing.
“Logan Mwangi died as a result of an unlawful act. Whoever killed Logan is with us today, whether in the dock or visible on screen. One of the people who killed Logan was one of the people in 5 Lower Llansantffraid at the time he died. John Cole, Angharad Williamson or (the youth).
“The defendants you have seen behaving like rats in a bag, fighting each other to the end, intent on forcing attention away from themselves.
“The prosecution say when you consider all the evidence in this case you can be sure that each one of the three defendants worked together here, each played their part in the murder of Logan and cover up. The prosecution ask you to return guilty verdicts for count one of murder and guilty verdicts to count three for perverting the course of justice in respect of Angharad Williamson and (the youth).”
The trial is due to resume at 10am when David Elias QC, for Cole, will deliver his closing speech.
