A court hears Logan Mwangi’s injuries were consistent with a fall from height or a serious car crash.
A five-year-old boy whose body was found dumped in a river had injuries consistent with a big fall or a serious car crash, a murder trial has heard.
The body of Logan Mwangi, also known as Logan Williamson, was found in the River Ogmore in Bridgend county on 31 July 2021, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
His mother Angharad Williamson, 30, and step-father, John Cole, 39, both of Sarn, deny murder.
A 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to his age, also denies murder.
All three are also accused of perverting the course of justice, including moving Logan’s body to an area of the river near Pandy Park, removing his clothing, washing bloodstained bed linen, and making a false missing person report to police.
On the first day of their trial, prosecutor Caroline Rees QC said: “The prosecution’s case is that Logan was murdered and each of these three defendants played their part in the killing of that five-year-old child.”
She said each of the three defendants had covered up their involvement, adding: “Each prioritised their own self preservation over all else and particularly over the needs of Logan.
Referring to the teenage defendant, Ms Rees said: “The prosecution say his young age was no object to his involvement in the death and cover up, in which we say he took full part.”
The jury heard an apparently distraught Ms Williamson had reported Logan missing at 05:45 BST on 31 July, and had accused a woman against whom she held a grudge of abducting him.
Logan was found wearing only mis-matched pyjamas in the river by police a short time later, taken to the town’s Princess of Wales Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
Ms Rees said he had suffered “significant injuries to his internal organs and his brain which caused his death.”
She added one pathologist described his injuries as “so extreme you would expect to find them as a result of a fall from a great height or a high velocity road traffic accident”.
The jury was told Mr Cole and the 14-year-old were caught on CCTV in the early hours of 31 July 31 leaving a house.
Mr Cole was carrying something in his arms which he has since confirmed was Logan’s dead body, the court heard.
The pair walked along the riverside path to the spot where Logan’s body was found.
During this time, a light can be seen switching on and off in the room used by Logan, which the prosecution said proved his mother was awake and knew what had happened to her son.
Mr Cole and the 14-year-old boy then returned to the property before heading out again, and the prosecution said this trip was to dispose of Logan’s bloodied pyjama top.
Ms Rees QC said: “Angharad Williamson must have been awake and up and about, fully aware Logan had died and that his body had been dumped in the river by her partner – disposed of like they were fly-tipping rubbish.”
The trial continues.