A father has appeared in court charged with the ‘harrowing’ murder of his five-year-old stepson who was found dead in a river.
John Cole, 39, is accused of murdering ‘kind, handsome, polite and clever’ Logan Williamson who died of serious liver and head injuries.
Cole is also charged with perverting the course of justice along with his fiance Angharad Williamson, 30, and a 13-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons.
The court heard Logan was allegedly attacked at his home in Bridgend, South Wales, and was left in ‘extreme pain and distress.’
Prosecutor Bethan Poole told the court how his mother found him dead in the early hours of last Saturday morning and a plot was hatched to ‘cover up’ the crime.
Ms Poole said: ‘Angharad Williamson was shouting: ‘He’s dead, he’s dead. They decided not to call the police and get rid of the body.’
The court heard Logan’s body was taken to the river in a plastic bin bag and his ripped t-shirt was also disposed of. The court heard the family often used the river for fly-tipping.
Magistrates were told screams of ‘Where is Logan’ heard by neighbours were a decoy to make people think the little boy had gone missing.
Detectives investigating the death of five year old Logan Mwangi have charged three people
Angharad Williamson, the mother of Logan, with her partner Jay Cole have both been charged
A van arrived at Cardiff Magistrates Court believed to be bringing the three charged to court
Ms Poole said Williamson rang police to say Logan was missing and another person had taken him as a ‘cover up story.’
But two figures were seen on CCTV leaving and returning to the property in the middle of the night, the court was told.
The prosecutor told the court: ‘There were three main injuries caused when Logan was alive and 24 hours before he was found dead.
‘The cause of deaths not an accident and was as a result of impacted pressure either by an object, a foot or a fist.
‘His liver was torn, the back of his head and scalp had become parted and he had a broken collar bone.’
Father-of-two Cole spoke only to confirm his name and address and date of birth. No plea was given.
A police diver surfaces in the bank of river Ogmore in Lower Llansantffraid near Bridgend
Williamson also confirmed her details to the court during a two-hour hearing before Cardiff magistrates who described it as a ‘grave crime’.
The pair were remanded in custody while the 13-year-old was remanded into the local authority care.
All three will appear at Newport Crown Court tomorrow(fri). The alleged offences happened between July 28 and August 1.
Investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Mark O’Shea, said: ‘This is a very harrowing case for all involved and I extend my deepest sympathies to Logan’s family and friends.’
He was remanded in custody to Newport Crown Court tomorrow(FRI AUG 6) by bench chairman Elaine Farthing.
Loveable Logan, also known as Logan Mwangi, was found in the shallows of the River Ogmore just 300 yards from the family home in the village of Sarn, Bridgend.
Locals were left shocked and in tears at the death of the schoolboy who loved Power rangers and the Lion King.
Dozens of cuddly toys and bunches of flowers were left at the riverbank in sight of the family’s two bedroom ground floor flat.
Logan’s heartbroken playmates will release balloons from the spot where his body was found at midday on Saturday.
Parents want their youngsters to say goodbye to little Logan Williamson by giving him a colourful send off.
One mum 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.’
Logan’s classmates are to be offered counselling when they return to Brynmenyn Primary School in Bridgend, South Wales, next month.
Organiser Rhiannon Hayes, 26, who Logan called ‘Auntie Rhi, said: ‘I felt we had to do something for Logan’s friends including my own daughter who he was very close to.
‘The children will release helium balloons into the sky and think about their little friend.’