Murder accused was proud of her son, she loved him, jury told
AMOTHER accused of murdering her son was “very proud” of him and “cared for him deeply”, a jury has been told.
Angharad Williamson, 31, of Lower Llansantffraid, Sarn, Bridgend, is accused of killing her five-year-old son, Logan Mwangi, who was found dead on July 31 last year in a river near his home. She denies the charge.
She is on trial at Cardiff Crown Court alongside Logan’s stepdad, John Cole, 40, of Maesglas, Ynysawdre, Bridgend, and a third defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons due to his age, who also deny murder.
Yesterday, the court heard a closing speech from Peter Rouch QC, for Williamson.
He told the jury cases involving the death of a child are “emotive” but said the jury were the “sole judges” of the evidence and it’s up to them to accept or reject the evidence.
Mr Rouch said: “The only way justice can be done is to approach the evidence in a dispassionate and objective, cool and calculated way.”
Referring to evidence heard about Williamson’s attitude towards her son, he said: “Rhiannon Hales said Logan was a mummy’s boy and he loved her and she loved him.
“Clare Williamson said she was a fantastic mother and Logan loved her to pieces. He was a loved child and Angharad loved him. She never saw her being physical with him.”
The barrister spoke about the evidence of other witnesses who described Williamson as a good mother – and teachers would describe her as an “overprotective mother”.
He said: “Angharad Williamson was someone who was very proud of Logan and cared for him deeply.”
Mr Rouch turned to the evidence of John Cole.
He said: “There were three people alone with Logan in that flat on the night he died. John Cole, Angharad Williamson and the youth. Only three people can tell you what happened.
“Mr Cole gave evidence, it’s a matter for you but you may think that John Cole obviously lied about so many matters in his evidence that you can’t accept a word he says. The lie persisted when he gave evidence. When he was asked about those matters he told lie after lie after lie.”
Mr Rouch made reference to Logan’s injuries – the prosecution says 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 before his body was dumped in the River Ogmore.
The barrister said: “Looking at those injuries and the way they were caused you may not think they were consistent with being caused by Angharad Williamson and she would not have assisted or encouraged anyone to do this. You remember her running from the flat in distress on Thursday.”
Mr Rouch also referred to Cole’s alleged control of Williamson.
He said: “Angharad Williamson said it doesn’t happen overnight, it’s a gradual process which can be described as insidious. Even if she wasn’t conscious of it, was her life being taken over and by who? ”
The jury also heard from John Hipkin, barrister for the youth defendant, who said there was “no credible evidence” his client had done anything physical to Logan.
He said: “Nowhere in these reams of evidence gathered from those accounts is there a piece of evidence that suggests that [the youth] had caused anyone really serious injury.”
All three defendants are accused of perverting the course of justice including moving Logan’s body to the river near Pandy Park, removing his clothing, washing bloodstained bedlinen, and making a false missing person report to police. Williamson and the youth have pleaded not guilty, while Cole admits perverting the course of justice.
Williamson and Cole were also charged with causing or allowing the death of a child, which they both deny.
The trial continues.