Murder of Logan Mwangi

Logan Mwangi, born 15 March 2016, died in late July 2021 in Sarn, Bridgend, South Wales, at age five. He was the son of Angharad Williamson and Benjamin Mwangi, who separated shortly after his birth. Williamson began a relationship with John Cole in 2019, and the household later included Cole's stepson Craig Mulligan. Cole had a history of criminal convictions, including violent offences, and a reputation for racism, and was known to use racist insults toward Logan, who was mixed race.

Logan's home life reportedly involved punitive discipline, including being made to hold push-up positions, being excluded from family activities, being sent outside, and being burnt. His condition was described as declining through 2020 and into 2021: he broke his arm in August 2020 in circumstances that were referred to police, and teachers observed a stammer, incontinence issues, and an unhealthy appearance when he returned to school. In January 2021, Logan was placed on the child protection register, prompting regular social worker visits from March until his death. Craig Mulligan, who had a history of aggression and mental health difficulties, was placed in Cole's custody on 26 July 2021 after previously expressing hostility toward Logan to a foster family.

On 21 July 2021, Logan tested positive for COVID-19 and was isolated in his room. He was last seen alive by someone outside the household on 27 July. Physical attacks on him are described as escalating on 29 July, possibly linked to a broken stereo blamed on him; a social worker visit that day was denied access to see him. In the early hours of 31 July, CCTV recorded Cole and Mulligan removing Logan's body from the house and later disposing of his damaged pyjama top. Williamson subsequently called police to report Logan missing, and his body was found in the River Ogmore. He had sustained 63 external injuries and internal organ damage; pathologists described the injuries as indicative of severe, localised blunt force trauma, stating he would have survived for at least several hours and that his caretakers would have been aware he was injured.

Williamson, Cole, and Mulligan were arrested the day after the body's discovery and initially denied involvement, claiming Logan had disappeared unknown to them. Evidence including CCTV footage and indications that Williamson had been awake through the night the body was discarded contributed to their prosecution. In April 2022, all three were found guilty of murder and perverting the course of justice at Cardiff Crown Court. In June 2022, they were sentenced to life imprisonment with minimum terms of 28 years for Williamson, 29 years for Cole, and 15 years for Mulligan, who was 13 at the time of the killing and 14 at trial.

The case prompted a serious case review into local child protection services and public debate, including calls from some experts and political figures for a wider independent review of child protection in Wales, and discussion of the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales.