Murder trial told boy denied food ‘as punishment’
A SCHOOLBOY who was allegedly murdered by his mother and stepfather was denied food, subjected to physical punishment, and shouted and sworn at, a court has been told.
Logan Mwangi was found dead on July 31 last year in the River Ogmore near Pandy Park in Bridgend.
Logan’s mother Angharad Williamson, 30, of Lower Llansantffraid, Sarn, Bridgend, and stepdad John Cole, 40, of Maesglas, Ynysawdre, Bridgend, 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.
On Friday, former couple Daniel O’Brien and Jodie Simmonds gave evidence along with Kevin Gorman, a neighbour of Williamson.
Mr O’Brien said he met Cole in 2017 and they used to train together in the gym five days a week. He later met Williamson and Logan, who he said called him “Uncle Dan”. He said he and Cole lost touch in 2019. On July 31 last year after receiving a call saying Logan had been found in the river and died, Mr O’Brien visited Cole and Williamson at Maesglas.
When asked by prosecutor Caroline Rees QC how Williamson reacted, he said: “She was acting really strange, nervous. Something weren’t right... She said she missed punishing Logan. I was in shock. I looked at [Jodie] and shook my head. [Cole] was heaving a lot like he was going to be sick.”
The next day he found out that Cole, Williamson and the youth had been arrested.
He told the court he had been sent to prison for 18 months and under cross-examination from David Elias QC, defending Cole, he said that while he was in jail, Cole had “tried causing problems for me and Jodie”.
Mr Elias asked: “Did you hold a grudge against him for that?” Mr O’Brien said: “No, not at all.”
Peter Rouch QC, for Williamson, said: “She was saying how much she would miss Logan – even miss him being naughty and putting him in the naughty corner.” Mr O’Brien said: “No, that’s not how it came out.”
Mr O’Brien’s former partner then gave evidence and told the court she met Cole in 2019 before meeting Williamson and Logan. Ms Simmonds said she recalled an incident at Christmas 2019 when Cole and Logan were in the boy’s room.
She said: “Jay [Cole] was sat in the doorway, Logan was in a push-up position... [His arms] looked tired and they were shaking. I remember them shaking. He was upset, crying and had a runny nose... I was told he had been naughty and needed to learn.”
Ms Rees asked: “Who told you that?” Ms Simmonds said: “Jay... Logan collapsed, he lost the weight on his arms. Jay told him to get back in position and his time would start again... [Logan] followed the instructions... He was three, four years old...
“I went into the kitchen with Jay and discussed with him how old Logan was and if it was appropriate to be dealing with Logan that way... He didn’t listen, shrugged it off, wasn’t concerned at all... I was upset... I got Angharad and told her... She was in the back garden smoking.
Ms Rees asked: “What did she say?” Ms Simmonds said: “That he needs to learn because his behaviour had been so poor... That Logan needed to learn his lesson.”
Ms Rees asked: “Did she appear bothered?” Ms Simmonds said: “No... I left the property. They knew I was upset about what I had witnessed... I tried to break away from the family.”
In January 2020, Ms Simmonds said she was asked to help take Logan to school when Williamson was unable to. She said she went to KFC and bought food to share with the family.
Ms Rees asked: “Did you see an interaction that caused you concern?” Ms Simmonds said: “Logan was being brushed off and being told he wasn’t allowed to eat the KFC with us because of his behaviour.”
Ms Rees asked: “Who was telling him that?” Ms Simmonds said: “Jay... He just said he had been misbehaving.” The witness also said there was a big change in Logan’s personality and appearance in the time she knew him. “He was withdrawn, lost visible weight at the time, his complexion was quite pale. His demeanour was very down, quiet.”
When questioned by Mr Rouch, on behalf of Williamson, Ms Simmonds agreed his client had a “warm and big” personality.
It was also put to her that Williamson was a good mother and was always “hugging and kissing” Logan. Ms Simmonds agreed.
Mr Rouch said things changed between Williamson and Cole when she visited London with Logan to see his father. Ms Simmonds agreed and said Cole had been trying to get hold of Williamson.
She said: “He was adamant she was having an affair with Logan’s father. Jay was adamant she had an affair when pregnant and made racial remarks towards Logan’s father and then towards Logan.”
Mr Rouch asked the witness if
Logan’s personality changed.
Ms Simmonds said: “He was becoming more withdrawn because he was being punished all the time... He was being sent to his room, being told off all the time, being denied cakes and confectionery.”
Neighbour Mr Gorman described Logan as a “chatty and happy young boy” but added: “In the last 12-18 months his demeanour did change quite a lot. He went very withdrawn and quiet.”
Mr Gorman said he could hear raised voices from Cole and Williamson in the property.
Ms Rees asked: “Did you hear the way they spoke to Logan?” Mr Gorman said: “As time went on, closer to what we’re talking about today, it was getting worse and worse, shouting at him – and I mean shouting at him. He would get quite upset, poor boy.”
Earlier the same day Logan’s grandmother Clare Williamson gave evidence. She said her daughter had been “absolutely distraught” on the day Logan was found, describing her as “really in shock”.
The court heard Mrs Williamson had not seen her daughter in person since January of that year, as Cole had told her she was not welcome at the house.
Mrs Williamson met her daughter at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend, where Logan’s body was taken after he was found.
“Angharad was very concerned for Logan, I found it quite strange, she kept tucking him up with blankets and worrying that he was cold,” she said. “She was bouncing from subject to subject, she was in a complete state of shock.”
She said she visited her daughter and Cole on August 1 to deliver groceries, and stayed for more than an hour. The witness said as she was leaving, her daughter told her “not to be surprised” if she and Cole were arrested.
Mrs Williamson continued: “I said, ‘Why would you be arrested? You haven’t done anything wrong’. She said something about the fact it happened while Logan was in their care.”
Mrs Williamson said Logan loved his mother “to pieces”. When asked if she had ever seen her daughter be “physical or violent” towards Logan, she replied: “Absolutely not.”
Williamson and the youth deny both murder and perverting the course of justice, while Cole denies murder but admits the second charge. Cole and Williamson face a third charge of causing or allowing the death of a child.
The trial continues but a juror has tested positive for Covid-19 and is unable to sit for the time being. The trial is on hold until Friday at least.