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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Elizabeth Thomas

House where Logan Mwangi was murdered offered up to new tenants

The home where Logan Mwangi was murdered has been advertised to new tenants months after the five-year-old's killers were jailed. The Bridgend property is managed by housing association Valleys To Coast and the two-bedroom ground floor flat in the Sarn area has recently appeared on a property portal for people with housing need to bid on.

Logan was found dead on July 31 last year in the River Ogmore in Sarn, Bridgend. His mother Angharad Williamson, 31, of Lower Llansantffraid, and stepfather John Cole, 40, of Maesglas in Ynysawdre, and stepbrother Craig Mulligan, 14, also of Maesglas, were found guilty of his murder and jailed for a combined 72 years.

The Lower Llansantffraid home, in which Logan and Williamson occupied the ground-floor flat, was boarded up shortly after the murder. Another tenant occupied the upstairs flat.

Read more: The full story of the murder of Logan Mwangi

In a statement from July this year, Valleys to Coast said that they had "had informal conversations with people in the local community" and would "continue to be sensitive to their needs and feelings." The housing association said it was in discussions with Bridgend County Borough Council about "next steps" at the time.

The cottage where five-year-old April Jones was murdered by paedophile Mark Bridger was demolished in 2014 by the Welsh Goverenment after they bought the property back. April's parents said that the house had been "a constant reminder of the tragic events" surrounding the loss of their daughter.

Logan Mwangi (Media Wales)

Speaking to WalesOnline in April this year, some of Logan's neighbours gave their thoughts on what should happen to his former home. One man, aged 79, suggested the building should undergo a "complete refurbishment" rather than be demolished. "It's got to be painted top to bottom and the garden put to a nice standard and someone will be more than glad of it," he said.

Another neighbour said he would like to see a memorial bench installed. The 33-year-old added that it is important to think about the need for homes, especially for people fleeing war-torn countries. He said: "I would rather it go to a loving family and someone who will have happy memories in it because God knows what memories are in there now."

Another neighbour said: "I know the circumstances are bad but it's still a property and lots of people haven't got one. You can't just brick it up. I don't know if anyone local would want to live there but someone from further afield might."

Logan suffered injuries that are usually seen in car crash victims during the attack last year. Williamson and Mulligan were found guilty of perverting the course of justice in addition to their murder convictions.

Cole, who had admitted perverting the course of justice, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 29 years in jail. Williamson was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 28 years, and Mulligan to 15 years as well as remaining on licence for life.

A spokesperson for Valleys to Coast said: "Our deepest sympathies are with the families impacted by the tragic event. This flat can provide a much needed home to someone who needs it. We hope they will be left in peace to settle into the community."

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