A grief-stricken community has come together to mourn a sweet and loving schoolboy who was murdered at the hands of a group of vicious killers which included his own mum. Five-year-old Logan Mwangi 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.
Logan's mother Angharad Williamson, 31, of Lower Llansantffraid, Sarn, Bridgend, and stepdad John Cole, 40, of Maesglas, Ynysawdre, Bridgend, and a third defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons due to his age, were all found guilty today (Thursday, April 21) of murder following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court. You can read more about that by clicking here. You can sign up to our newsletters by clicking here.
Cole only came into Logan’s life in 2019 after starting a relationship with his mum, and prosecutors said his history of racism could have been motivation for his cruel treatment of the five-year-old. Angharad Williamson went from a luxury life as a stockbroker's daughter to a self-confessed "sh*t mother", according to her testimony in court.
Following the verdict of the jury, a gathering of an estimated 50 people came together on Thursday evening near a bridge at Lower Llansantffraid in Sarn. More than 100 teddy bears had already been laid there in memory of little Logan, along with many floral tributes.
It was a sombre atmosphere as those in attendance embraced and shed a few tears, while candles were lit and people observed the tributes which had been left. In a particularly emotional moment, those gathered at the scene broke into a round of applause, which saw everyone at the scene join in in unison.
One mourner, who wanted only to be known as Hayley, said: “It’s touched the hearts of everyone, not just this area. I can’t imagine what Logan went through. You never know what’s going on behind closed doors. To look at (Angharad) you’d never believe she had done this.”
She recalled a day last summer when she saw Logan playing with his mum in their front garden, adding: "I saw him playing in a sandpit. That was the only time I saw him. He looked so happy. It’s hit everybody for six. You don’t expect this to happen on your doorstep - done by parents who should have loved him."
Another woman, who wished only to be known as Lisa, who lives in the street just behind Logan, added: “I followed the case and wanted to pay my respects to little Logan to wish him on his way. I have lived in Sarn all my life. It’s a very tight-knit community. The community has really pulled together. There are lots of children in Sarn. It’s affected them in a big way. I think the verdict was well-deserved. I would like to see them all sentenced for life, and life should mean life. I’d like to say RIP Logan, and he’s forever in our heart."
Pointing to the field just in front of Logan’s home, she added: “He’s forever going to be here playing in the fields."
Another lady paying tribute said: "We’ve lived here our whole lives. I’ve lived here for 60 years. Nothing like this has ever happened. It makes you think of your own children.” She added that the little children in the area “don’t understand what’s happened." Another mourner added: “Whether or not you knew Logan, it’s affected everyone in this area."
Linda Griffiths, 54, from Brynmenyn, was one of those who wept during the gathering for Logan this evening. She said: "He was so loved. He didn't think he was loved. He was definitely loved, and I didn't even know him. I don't know the family, I don't know anything. I can't get over how these three treated him like they did. He must have ben in agony."
She continued: "It's affected me like he was my own. And looking around, I think everybody else feels the same too. A little five-year-old dumped in the river - it's unimaginable."
The woman who organised the tribute, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I think (the gathering) is what any normal people would do. It’s nice to see so many people here for Logan. Lots of people in the community have a lot of unanswered questions."
Referring to Logan's body being found in the river next to his home, she added: "How does this happen seconds away from (Logan’s) home? It’s scary. His bedroom window is a stone’s throw away. How does a mother not protect her son? It’s our job now as a community to make sure Logan is not forgotten."
