This footage shows the contrasting reactions of Logan Mwangi’s killers as they were arrested on suspicion of murder. They reacted with disbelief and distress in an elaborate performance to throw police off the scent.
Stepfather John Cole, 40, mother Angharad Williamson, 31, and a youth were convicted of the five-year-old’s murder in Bridgend following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court. During the trial the jury was shown body-worn footage taken by the arresting officers who visited Cole’s house in Maesglas, Ynysawdre, on August 1. This was the day after Logan’s body was discovered in the River Ogmore following a report by Williamson to the police he had gone missing.
All three defendants were separately spoken to and arrested on suspicion of Logan’s murder. Cole quietly responded to the caution with: “What?” and quickly left with the arresting officers. Williamson broke down into tears and began wailing, saying: “I haven’t done anything., I ask for your help and now you’re blaming me." The youth aggressively swore at the officers but upon being told he was arrested on suspicion of murder he sat emotionless. All three were sentenced on Thursday. You can recap all the details from that here.
Read more: Logan Mwangi's father says son's brutal murder 'doesn't seem real'
Here are the transcripts of how each defendant reacted during their arrests.
John Cole
Cole was taken downstairs and arrested. Upon being arrested Cole says: “What?” and starts breathing heavily. He was told by officers to calm down and that would be taken to Cardiff Bay police station.
Angharad Williamson
Williamson: "What do you know?"
Police: "We’ll explain to you in a moment."
Williamson: "What do you mean you’ll explain?"
Police: "There’s nothing you need to do a second."
Williamson: "What do you mean? Where is he? Where is Logan? When is he coming back to Bridgend?"
Police: "I don’t know."
Williamson: "They’re doing the autopsy. No-one is telling me what is happening with him…. What is going on?"
Police: "We’ll explain everything now."
Williamson: "This is my son, I want to know what happened to him. Please. "
Police: "We’ll tell you now."
Williamson: "He’s five, bless him, my baby. You have got to tell me something please. I am begging, I am begging you please (starts sobbing)."
Police: "We know it’s a difficult time, we’re trying to get all the answers we can."
Williamson: "Where is [John] going? Where is he going? What’s going on?"
Police: "We’re going to explain now. Have a sit down a minute and we’ll explain now."
Williamson: "What is going on? What is going on? Why? What’s going on?"
Police: "Listen to me now. Come downstairs with me."
Williamson: "What is going on?"
Police: "Listen to me now, what is happening at the moment is John has been arrested. Listen to me a second, we’re going to arrest you as well."
Williamson gasps and starts hyperventilating
Police: "Calm down, what we don’t want to do is get [the youth] wound up."
Williamson: "Why am I getting arrested? (Starts sobbing)"
Police: "Sit down by there a minute."
Williamson: "I haven’t done anything wrong."
Police: "Don’t cry okay." (Formally arrests Williamson on suspicion of murder).
Williamson: "Can I get dressed please? I haven’t got a bra on."
Police: "I can’t let you go upstairs. They won’t let you have [a bra]."
Williamson: "My son."
Police: "It’s part of the investigation okay?"
The next passage cannot be published for legal reasons
Police: "[The youth] is coming with us as well...."
The rest of the passage cannot be published.
Williamson: "I haven’t done anything wrong (Sobs and hugs the bannister)."
Police: "Are there shoes upstairs? We can’t let you go upstairs."
Williamson: "I have just lost [Logan] and now you’re arresting me."
Police: "We understand it’s a difficult time. We have got a job to do to investigate."
Williamson: "I need my phone."
Police: "We’ll be taking your phone."
Williamson: "What the f*** is going on? What happened to him? What happened to my son? Tell me now, what happened to my son?"
Police: "I can’t give you any more information at this time."
Williamson: "My son goes missing, I ask for your help. I scream and shout, you find him. What the f*** is going on? My son is dead.(Sobs)"
The next passage cannot be published for legal reasons.
Williamson: (Shouts the youth’s name)
The youth: "I’m under arrest."
Williamson: "Just do as you’re told please… You have done nothing wrong."
The youth: "I know."
Williamson: "Just go with them…. Do I have to put handcuffs on?"
Police: "Have you got a jacket we can put over your hands?"
Williamson: "There’s a Marvel hoody in the washing basket. (Starts sobbing hysterically)"
The next passage cannot be published for legal reasons.
Williamson: "I need to take my medication…. Where is Logan, where’s Logan please?"
Police: "He’s still in hospital with doctors."
Williamson: "What happened to him?"
Police: "I can’t explain any further at the moment."
Williamson: "Why isn’t anyone talking to me? You’re supposed to be helping find out what happened to my son and you’re arresting me."
Police: "I know it’s difficult…"
Williamson: "Is your son dead, has your son been found dead in a river?"
Police: "We know you’re very upset…"
Williamson: "Very upset? I’ve lost my son. (The next passage cannot be published) I don’t want to be here anymore."
Police: "Hey come on, that’s not helpful."
Williamson: "I just want Logan back. (Sobs)"
Police: "You’re going to go to a police station where you’ll be interviewed and they’ll ask you some questions and they’ll go from there. As I said to John there’s quite a lot of press interest in this case. What you don’t want is people, neighbours and press, seeing you like this. Nobody is going to know you have been arrested."
Williamson: "I haven’t done anything. I ask for your help and now you’re blaming me."
Police: "We’re arresting you to speak to you. We need to interview you."
Williamson: "This is not real."
Police: "We can get you away from prying eyes, neighbours and any press."
Williamson: "Are they here, press?"
Police: "No but you can imagine it doesn’t take long when there are police cars in the street."
Williamson: "Can we go please?"
Police: "Try and calm down as we go outside. The girls will take you to Bridgend police station."
The footage skips to Williamson being inside a police vehicle.
Williamson: "Logan is on his own. He don’t like being on his own. Is somebody with Logan?"
Police: "Yes, people are with Logan"
Williamson: "I have just lost my son. This is tearing my heart apart. We need to find help find out what happened to Logan."
Police: "I agree."
The youth
Youth: "Get the f*** out of my way, get the f*** out of my way."
Police: "Come on now."
The next passage cannot be published for legal reasons.
Youth: "Stop talking to me."
Police: "You’re not in control of the situation now…."
Youth: "What’s going to happen with us two (referencing Williamson)?"
Police: "We’ll sort that out. …. At the moment there are things we have got to ask you. You’re arrested on suspicion of murder."
(The youth is motionless as he is told this)
Youth: "Why am I under arrest?"
Police: "Because of the investigation. We have got some questions that we need to ask you. Something has arisen… All will be explained when we go to the police station. Be tidy with me, don’t kick off and play up."
Williamson can be heard shouting the youth's name.
Youth: "I’m under arrest."
Williamson: "Do what you’re told please… You have done nothing wrong."
Youth: "I know."
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