Teen and Step-Dad Caught Dumping Bags Near River Where Toddler’s Body Found
CCTV footage shows a 14-year-old boy and John Cole, the toddler’s step-dad, moving suspicious bags in the early hours of July 31, 2021. Cardiff Crown Court heard they dumped the bags in the River Ogmore, Bridgend to dodge a hefty fine.
Tragically, five-year-old Logan Mwangi’s body was recovered from the same river later that day. All three accused — the teen, Mr Cole, and Logan’s mum Angharad Williamson — deny murder.
Youth Denies Knowledge of Toddler’s Fate in Police Interviews
During police interviews read out to the jury on Monday, the teenager insisted he had no idea what happened to Logan. On August 2, he claimed he and Mr Cole were just illegally fly-tipping rubbish – polystyrene and broken toys – to avoid paying “hundreds” in disposal fees.
“We dumped bags in the river so we didn’t get a £1,000 fine,” the boy told officers.
He explained they came back 20 minutes later to check the bags had vanished. When pressed about the fine, he said it was because “it’s fly-tipping”.
Confused Timeline and Shocking Claims
The next day, the teenager gave a slightly different account after Mr Cole told police he moved Logan’s body early on July 31. The boy admitted he’d mixed up his days.
He said he saw Mr Cole carrying something over his shoulder, which he thought was a bin bag. He followed at a distance but claimed, “I didn’t know he was carrying Logan or anything.”
He said he tagged along “to make sure he didn’t get seen by anyone for the £1,000 fine.” When Mr Cole noticed him following, they didn’t speak.
Denials and Blame Game in Shocking Case
In a later interview on August 4, the teen described how he and Mr Cole searched for Logan, shouting his name near the river.
“I thought he’d been snatched,” he told police.
He denied hurting Logan or knowing who did, suggesting a bruise on the boy’s eye came from a toy Logan threw. He recounted how Angharad Williamson grabbed Logan and shook him to “get him to tell the truth” after the toy broke.
Ending his final interview, the teen lashed out:
“You can tell Angharad Williamson to off for me. She is blaming me and John Cole. I am just sick of this. She is just saying what she wants to get out of the cells.”
John Cole has admitted perverting the course of justice. Both Williamson and the teenager deny this charge, along with accusations of causing or allowing the death of a child.
