A five-year-old boy was “treated like disposable rubbish in life and in death”, the jury at his murder trial have been told during the prosecutor’s closing speech.
Logan Mwangi, also known as Logan Williamson, was discovered in the River Ogmore in Pandy Park, Bridgend, on the morning of 31 July, 2021.
He had suffered catastrophic injuries that were described as being similar to those found on victims of high-speed crashes or someone who had fallen from a height.
Logan’s mother Angharad Williamson, 31, of Lower Llansantffraid, Sarn, Bridgend, and stepdad John Cole, 40, of Maesglas, Ynysawdre, Bridgend, are on trial at Cardiff Crown Court.
A third defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons due to his age, is also on trial.
They have all pleaded not guilty to murder and the trial enters its final stages this week.
Caroline Rees QC, barrister for the prosecution, said the court had heard how Logan was a “smiling and cheerful” child.
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Logan’s ‘lifeless body was fly-tipped like rubbish’
She told the jury: “Behind the smile, he endured a harsh environment and was not treated with love.
“In the 10 days before he was discovered, he was being been kept like a prisoner in his small bedroom.
“What must he have thought about the way life was in those 10 days?”
Ms Rees continued: “The prosecution say Logan was dehumanised by the defendants in this case, treated like disposable rubbish in life, just as you know he was in death when his lifeless body was fly-tipped like rubbish by John Cole in the River Ogmore.”
Ms Rees went on to add that the prosecution were unable to prove what really happened or who struck the fatal blow to Logan.
But she said there was a “raft of powerful circumstantial evidence” that all three defendants took part in the murder and cover up.
Ms Rees said all the defendants must have known what happened to Logan to cause his 56 external injuries.
She concluded: “They were all involved…they’re putting their self interest first.”
Barristers for the three defendants will begin their closing speeches tomorrow morning and the jury is expected to retire to consider verdicts after Easter.
