Five-year-old Logan Mwangi was found on 31 July 2021 in the Ogmore River in the village of Sarn in Wales.
Under the Spider-Man sweater and pajama pants covered with dinosaurs, as many as 56 external injuries were found.
During the trial, it emerged that the five-year-old’s injuries were very special. according to The Independent resembled the injuries found in the dead after car and fall accidents.
Logan lived with his mother Angharad Williamson (31) and cohabitant John Cole (40).
Occasionally a 14-year-old boy lived in their home. The teenager is said to have seen Cole as a father figure, and the 40-year-old is said to have served as his guardian for most of his life.
SCENE: Forensic scientist outside the family home in Sarn near Bridgen in Wales. Photo: Ashley Crowden / Shutterstock
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Pushed down stairs
In August 2020, the then four-year-old Logan had to go to the emergency room after he had fallen down the stairs at home. The ugly fall resulted in a broken collarbone.
It later became known that it was the 14-year-old who had pushed him.
When the five-year-old tested positive for corona in July last year, his mother and stepfather locked him in the bedroom.
They put up a lattice in front of the door to prevent him from getting out.
SHAKES: Locals remember Logan Mwangi by the river he was found. Photo: Dimitris Legakis / Athena Pictures / Shutterstock
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Two days before Logan was found dead in the river, the five-year-old was abused after he allegedly spilled soda.
Cole and the 14-year-old attacked Logan, hitting him in the stomach. According to the mother’s explanation in the courtroom, the teenager allegedly kicked the boy over the end and banged his head against the floor.
The evidence disproved the jury
Joselyn Sellen, one of the twelve jury members, says BBC that the evidence presented in court was so cruel that she was reported sick from work.
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When a pediatrician described how the five – year – old’s last hours were, it broke the jury member.
– It was incredibly difficult. You are taken to a very dark place when you hear that kind of evidence. You just keep thinking about what happened to the child, and how he must have suffered, says Sellen.
Logan had extensive bruises on the back of his head, as well as several tears in his intestines and liver.
– The case completely took over my life. I was traumatized. How was it for Logan? Did he ever laugh? What happened if he cried ?, says Sellen.
The jury spent five hours coming to an agreement. The mother, stepfather and teenager were all sentenced to life in prison.
The mother must serve 28 years before she has the opportunity to apply for parole. Cole must serve at least 29 years, while the teenager must serve 15 years.
CONVICTED: Angharad Williamson and John Cole have both been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of the five-year-old. They must serve 28 and 29 years, respectively, before they can apply for parole. Photo: Shutterstock
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Was trapped
According to The Guardian Logan died after several months of abuse. The boy must have been trapped in his bedroom most of the time.
The mother, stepfather and teenager later tried to cover up the murder by reporting the five-year-old missing.
The truth was that they had dumped the body in the river.
The Guardian writes that the child welfare service was aware of the injuries Logan had sustained several months before he died. Nevertheless, nothing was done to save him from the violent home.
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A social worker was visiting the family’s home the day before Logan’s death. She was refused to see the five-year-old when her mother blamed corona infection.
She stayed for 20 minutes and left without seeing or hearing Logan, writes BBC.
– Love to hurt children
The next day, surveillance cameras filmed Cole and the teenager carrying the little five-year-old out of the apartment, before getting rid of him in the river.
The teenager is said to have previously made threats to kill Logan, former foster parents stated during the trial.
According to a social worker, the 14-year-old also said that he loved hurting children, and that he got an orgasmic feeling from it.
CHARACTERISTICS: The five-year-old’s father, Ben Mwangi (right), pictured in April 2022. Photo: Pa Photos
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During the trial, it became known that Cole disliked the five-year-old’s appearance, because he resembled his father with Kenyan roots.
Outside the courtroom, father Ben Mwangi said his son was the “most beautiful boy”.
– I loved him so much. Somehow I have to be able to live on, knowing that I will never see him grow up to be the wonderful man I knew he could be.
– The wonderful memories I have of my son will never be destroyed. They will be in my heart and in my soul forever, said the father.
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