‘Murdered’ Logan Mwangi, 5, ‘made to face wall for 30minutes & given cereal for dinner as “punishment” by mum & stepdad’
TRAGIC Logan Mwangi was forced to face the wall for 30 minutes and denied food as a “punishment” by his mum and stepdad, a court heard.
The five-year-old boy was found with horrific injuries after being dumped in the Ogmore River near his home in Bridgend like “fly-tipped” rubbish.
His mum Angharad Williamson, 30, stepdad John Cole, 40, and a 14-year-old boy are accused of murder and perverting the course of justice.
Cardiff Crown Court heard today how the youngster was subjected to cruel displicines at home by Williamson and Cole before his death.
Family friend Callum Williams said: “They would try and talk to him to figure out what was going on and if that didn’t work they would make him stand towards the wall on the stairs towards the bannister for 30 minutes at a time…
“He was around the age of five or six.”
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The pal also said Logan was blocked from eating takeaway food by his mum and stepdad if he apparently misbehaved and was instead handed cereal for dinner.
Mr Williams was the last person to see Logan alive on July 27 when he appeared on a Facetime call with Cole.
The witness said he was “sat on the stairs colouring a numbers book” and appeared “very happy and joyful”.
Jurors were told just four days later, the youngster was dead.
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The court also heard how Williamson was referred to social services just months before Logan died amid fears for his safety.
The youngster had suffered a broken elbow and dislocated collar bone after apparently falling down the stairs at home.
But Williamson tried to “fix” the injuries herself instead of taking her son to hospital, it was said.
A health visitor said Logan was then referred to Bridgend Council’s social services team and a multi-agency safeguarding hub after finally attending hospital.
The court heard previously how Logan was dumped in the river after suffering a blunt force trauma.
He had 56 external injuries and a horrific catalogue of internal injuries consistent with a “fall from a great height” or a “high velocity road traffic collision”.
Logan had been so battered even his tongue was bruised but tragically he was still alive for several hours after his liver and bowel were torn, it was said.
Jurors were told he was made to do push-ups as a “punishment” and was blocked from eating KFC with his family.
If he fell, Cole allegedly told him to “get back in position” and re-start the timer.
The stepdad would bully little Logan but Williamson did nothing to stop her partner, it was said.
‘GET MY BABY BACK’
Williamson had made a 999 call in the early hours of July 31, 2021, and began “hyperventilating” down the phone as she falsely reported her son missing.
In a clip played to jurors, she could be heard screaming “Help me please” before telling the call handler she woke up to find her son was not there.
At one point she screams: “Get me my baby back.”
Prosecutor Caroline Rees QC said she played the “part of a distraught mother to the best of her acting abilities”.
Jurors were told she tried to blame a woman she had a grudge against of “kidnapping” Logan in a “callous attempt to send the police off in the wrong direction”.
Ms Rees said: “It might sound like a heartfelt call of distress from a mother reporting her child missing. But with knowledge of the CCTV and the proof that she knew exactly what was going on that night, the prosecution say that the 999 call is in fact chilling.
“It demonstrates the extent to which Williamson was prepared to lie and her ability to put on a performance to save her own skin, even when dealing with the death of her own five-year-old child.”
Police bodycam footage shows “dramatic” Williamson keeping up the “hideous show” when officers arrived at the family home, it was said.
CHILLING FOOTAGE
Logan was tragically discovered wearing mis-matched pyjamas in the river by police a short time later and was taken to hospital.
While there, Williamson allegedly continued with the web of lies – telling one nurse “she wished she had taught him to swim”.
The court was told she was awake when Cole and the 14-year-old boy were caught on CCTV leaving the house in the early hours of the morning.
Jurors were told the stepdad has since admitted he was carrying Logan’s dead body in his arms during the chilling footage.
The pair walked along the riverside path to where the youngster’s body was found before they returned to a house.
They were captured again heading out – this time to allegedly dump Logan’s bloodied pyjama top.
The sound of a tumble dryer and washing machine was also picked up in bodycam footage, which the prosecution say was to clean the child’s bloodied bedlinen.
HORRIFIC INJURIES
Jurors grew upset as they were told the brutal injuries Logan had suffered before his death.
In total the youngster had 56 external injuries to his head, face, torso arms and legs from a blunt force trauma.
Tragically Logan is believed to have survived for several hours after the assault, meaning he may have been saved, it was said.
Home office pathologist Dr John Williams found he was covered in bruises including on his scalp and tongue.
The court was told he had received “catastrophic” injuries to his abdomen including a tear measuring 5.5cm by 3cm on his liver and a second rip on his bowel.
Jurors heard there was also evidence Logan’s collar bone had been broken in the weeks before his death – suggesting he may have been abused “over a prolonged period of time”.
Ms Rees said: “The injuries should be considered as consistent with inflicted injury by blows, kicks or impact with a weapon. The deep scalp injury is also consistent with blunt force trauma.”
Logan is believed to have been murdered at home before an “elaborate charade” was hatched to cover up his death.
All three defendants, who deny murder, allegedly “prioritised their own self preservation over all else”.
Cole and Williamson deny causing or allowing the death of a child but Cole admits perverting the course of justice by moving Logan’s body.
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Williamson and the boy deny perverting the course of justice.
The trial continues.