Stepfather in court for murder of Logan, five
Boy found dead in river was assaulted with ‘great force’ and left with multiple injuries including a torn liver, magistrates are told
A MAN appeared in court yesterday charged with murdering his five-year-old stepson.
Logan Mwangi was found dead in a river after being assaulted with ‘great force’, Cardiff magistrates were told.
He was left in ‘extreme pain and distress’ and died of a torn liver.
John Cole, 39, from Bridgend in South Wales, is accused of Logan’s murder.
The stepfather, the child’s mother Angharad Williamson, 30, and a 13-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons, are all charged with perverting the course of justice. Details of Logan’s multiple injuries were given to magistrates as they remanded Cole in custody.
Bethan Poole, prosecuting, told the hearing: ‘The cause of death was not accidental and caused by impacted pressure by a foot or object or possibly a fist.
‘His liver has been torn as a result of one or more assault.
‘The second injury is an internal injury to the back of his head whereby his skull and scalp have parted. The pathologist said
‘In extreme pain and distress’
this was done by great force. ‘The final injury is a broken collar bone. When Logan suffered these injuries he would have been in extreme pain and distress. It would’ve been clear to anyone around him that he was in extreme pain and discomfort.’
Miss Poole said the injuries were ‘relatively fresh’ and would have taken place within the period of 24 hours before Logan was discovered dead in the river early on Saturday morning.
Logan, who loved Power Rangers and the Lion King, spent his summer holidays with his toddler younger brother watching videos and playing on his X-Box.
Father-of-two Cole spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth. He did not enter a plea. Williamson, from Bridgend, also confirmed her details to the court during a two-hour hearing.
The pair were remanded in custody while the 13-year-old was remanded into the care of the local authority.
All three will appear at Newport Crown Court tomorrow. The alleged offences happened between July 28 and August 1.
The investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Mark O’Shea of South Wales Police, said yesterday: ‘This is a very harrowing case for all involved and I extend my deepest sympathies to Logan’s family and friends.’
Logan, also known as Logan Williamson, was found in the shallows of the River Ogmore just yards from his family home.
Locals were left shocked and in tears at the schoolboy’s death. Dozens of cuddly toys and bunches of flowers were left at the riverbank, in sight of the family’s twobedroom ground-floor flat.
Logan’s heartbroken playmates will release balloons from the spot where his body was found tomorrow.
One mother said: ‘You can’t explain to five-year-olds about what’s happened but Logan was a big part of their lives and a special little boy. All we can do is make a memory and say goodbye to him by letting balloons go.’
A neighbour said Logan was ‘the kindest boy you could meet’ and always looked happy. They added: ‘He had a lovely mischievous smile and was a cheeky chap.’