Mum who murdered son, 5, before his body was dumped in river wants conviction reviewed

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Mum who murdered son, 5, before his body was dumped in river wants conviction reviewed

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A mother who murdered her five-year-old son wants her case reviewed by the body which investigates potential miscarriages of justice.

Angharad Williamson was jailed for life in June 2022 for the murder of her son Logan Mwangi, alongside his stepfather John Cole and a teenager, Craig Mulligan, then 14.

Williamson must serve a minimum of 28 years.

On Wednesday, she appeared via video link at a hearing at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court which set a date for Logan’s inquest.

Tony Thompson, a former superintendent with the British Transport Police, told the court: “I am conducting a review of her conviction.”

Logan’s inquest has been set for November this year – more than six years after his murder.

Mwangi’s body was found in the River Ogmore, near his home in Sarn, Bridgend county in July 2021.

Cardiff Crown Court previously heard that the attack on the “defenceless” schoolboy, who weighed 3st 1lb (20kg), was “nothing short of horrifying”.

It has been four years after those who were closest to Mwangi were convicted of his murder.

Cole was told he would serve a minimum term of 29 years in prison while Williamson was to serve at least 28 years.

Craig Mulligan, 13 at the time of the murder and now 18, was told he would serve at least 15 years.

Mulligan is not Cole’s biological son but had been raised by him since he was nine months old.

Mug shots of a woman with pink hair, a teenage boy and a balding man. They're in police custody wearing grey jumpers.Image source, South Wales Police

On Wednesday, Williamson was seen briefly on screen with dark hair and glasses as she listened to the hearing from HMP Downview prison in Surrey, England, alongside a mental health support worker.

She did not speak at the hearing and Coroner David Regan said he understood she “wanted to observe. “

Thompson told the court that Williamson had contacted him at the end of last year.

“It’s at no cost- she has no legal aid,” he said.

The “aim is to determine whether there are grounds to go to the Criminal Cases Review Commission”, before hoping to get the case to the Court of Appeal.

He added that that was “some way down the track.”

Thompson argued that the inquest and his investigation were “closely related” and that he should be able to be seen as an “interested person” at the inquest, meaning someone who is able to take a more active role in proceedings.

The court heard the inquest, to be held for four weeks from 15th November of next year would have a scope starting from August 2020, when Mwangi was taken to hospital with injuries, 11 months before his death.

A river with trees around it. there's a pipe and a bridge going over the river. There's also a green fence on the left hand side.

Legal representatives for South Wales Police, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and Bridgend County Borough Council joined the hearing at Pontypridd Coroners Court via video link.

In November 2022, a safeguarding review found hospital doctors failed to share with child protection services a list of “significant” injuries Logan Mwangi suffered 11 months before he was murdered.

A review into social services at Bridgend County Borough Council revealed concerns over children’s service with follow up inspections suggesting improvements were still needed.

Speaking after the hearing, Tony Thompson told BBC Wales he was contacted by Williamson, after publicity surrounding his success in securing a review by the CCRC of the case of Clive Freeman, a man who maintains his innocence 38 years after being convicted of murder.

He said: “Angharad is very pleased that someone is taking an interest in her. She’s got no money for lawyers. She’s got no legal aid. And that’s why I said, look, I’ll have a look at it.

“Angharad pleaded not guilty at the trial and the trial judge made comments in her sentencing remarks that she fond there was no evidence that she had assaulted Logan but she must have known what was going on and was part of the planning to dispose of poor Logan’s body.

“I am looking at all the circumstances leading up to that but it’s to early to determine whether there is sufficient ground for me to continue.

” People who feel they are wrongly convicted are entitled to have somebody willing to look their case for them but I do understand the sensitives around the case and I knew that when I took it on.”

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