Case File: The Murder of Logan Mwangi

Background & Family Dynamics

Logan Mwangi was born in 2016, a bright, energetic, and cheerful child often described as “a little boy with a big smile.” Yet behind closed doors, his life spiraled into a nightmare. His mother, Angharad Williamson, became involved with John Cole, a man with a history of violence and deep-seated prejudices. Cole harbored resentment toward Logan, reportedly due to racist attitudes, and began exerting control over the household. When 13-year-old Craig Mulligan, Cole’s stepson, joined the family shortly before Logan’s death, the environment became even more hostile.

The Night of the Murder

In the early hours of July 31, 2021, Logan suffered a brutal series of assaults. Medical experts later revealed injuries consistent with those seen in high-speed car crashes or falls from great heights: severe internal trauma, a torn liver, and catastrophic abdominal injuries. These were not accidents, they were inflicted with deliberate force.

After Logan died, Williamson, Cole, and Mulligan set about staging a cover-up. They dressed his small body in mismatched pyjamas, wrapped him in a duvet, and dumped him like rubbish in the nearby River Ogmore, just 250 meters from their home. Back inside, they attempted to clean up evidence, rearrange the scene, and prepare their deception.

Deception and the Missing Child Act

At 5:46 a.m., Angharad Williamson dialed emergency services, reporting her son missing. On the call, she feigned panic, sobbing and pleading for help, while knowing full well Logan’s lifeless body lay nearby. She even screamed at officers to “find my baby,” her performance designed to convince authorities of her innocence.

But the facade cracked quickly. CCTV from their housing estate captured John Cole and Craig Mulligan in the middle of the night, carrying what appeared to be a body toward the river.

Arrests, Trials and Sentencing

All three were arrested in the days following Logan’s death. During trial at Cardiff Crown Court in 2022, the evidence was damning: phone records, CCTV footage, and forensic examinations painted a chilling picture of a calculated killing and attempted cover-up. The jury found Williamson, Cole, and Mulligan guilty of murder and perverting the course of justice.

Cole received life with a minimum of 29 years, Williamson life with a minimum of 28 years, and Mulligan due to his age sentenced to detention for a minimum of 15 years.

Legacy & Public Relation

The murder of Logan Mwangi horrified the UK, drawing comparisons to cases like Victoria Climbié and Baby P, where vulnerable children slipped through the cracks of social services. Despite known concerns about Logan’s welfare and reports of injuries, he remained in the home where his killers lived. The case triggered calls for systemic reform in child protection services, with particular focus on how red flags were missed.

Logan’s story remains a devastating reminder of the consequences when authorities, communities, and extended families fail to intervene in time.

Photo: BBC