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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Liam Buckler & Jason Evans

Logan Mwangi's teenage killer won't have 15 year prison sentence increased

The teen who murdered Logan Mwangi won't have his sentence increased as the judge's decision is not 'unduly lenient'.

Craig Mulligan was aged just 13 when, along with Logan's mum Angharad Williamson and her partner John Cole, brutally murdered five-year-old Logan and then dumped his body in the river.

WalesOnline reported he was sentenced to life detention with a minimum of 15 years before he can apply for parole for his role in the offending.

John was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 29 years, and Angharad to life with a minimum of 28 years.

Two months on from that hearing, the Solicitor General made a "provisional" referral to the Court of Appeal in regard to Craig over whether his sentence was unduly lenient.

Logan Mwangi was subjected to a "brutal and sustained assault" prior to his death (Media Wales)

And such applications have to be made within 28 days of the date of sentencing.

However, it has now been confirmed that "after careful consideration" the UK government law officer is not going ahead with the application to challenge the sentence handed down by Mrs Justice Jefford - saying it did not meet the high threshold of being unduly lenient.

A spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office said: "The Solicitor General was horrified by this case and wishes to express his sympathies to the victim’s father.

"After careful consideration the Solicitor General has concluded that this case cannot properly be referred to the Court of Appeal.

"A referral under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme to the Court of Appeal can only be made if a sentence is not just lenient but unduly so.

Throughout the trial and sentencing hearing Craig's identity was protected by a court order (ITV)

"Such that the sentencing judge made a gross error or imposed a sentence outside the range of sentences reasonably available in the circumstances of the offence.

"The threshold is a high one, and the test was not met in this case."

John Cole, 40, Angharad Williamson, 31, and teenager Craig Mulligan pleaded not guilty to murder but were convicted following a 10-week trial at Cardiff Crown Court this summer.

Logan was subjected to a "brutal and sustained assault" prior to his death, and suffered the kind of injuries usually seen in car crash victims.

His battered body was then taken to the nearby River Ogmore by Craig and his dad Cole and thrown in; blood-stained bed linen was washed to destroy vital forensic evidence.

And a false missing person report was made to police with the three defendants all taking part in the sick charade.

Speaking after the conviction of the killers Logan's dad, Ben Mwangi, said his lasting memory of his son was "just a happy little boy that called me ‘Daddy’."

Following the sentencing the trial judge agreed Craig Mulligan’s identity could be reported (ITV)

He added: "The wonderful memories I have with my son will never be tarnished.

"They will forever be in my heart and soul. I loved him so much and somehow I have to live my life knowing that I will never get to see him grow up to be the wonderful man I know that he could be."

In a statement from his school, Logan was described as "a bright, happy child who was caring and loving and an absolute pleasure to teach" and who loved playing with his classmates.

Throughout the trial and sentencing hearing Craig's identity was protected by a court order under Section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 due to the defendant being under 18 years old and legally considered a juvenile.

This prevented the publication of his name, address, identity of the school he attended, or a still or moving image of him.

Once the guilty verdict had been delivered by the jury an application was made by representatives of the media to revoke the Section 45 order.

Following the sentencing the trial judge agreed to this application due to the serious nature of the conviction and Craig Mulligan’s identity could be reported.

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