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

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Mum who murdered son, 5, before his body was dumped in river wants conviction reviewedImage caption, Logan Mwangi was murdered in July 2021Published30 minutes agoA 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.

The Details

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.

Image source, South Wales PoliceImage caption, Angharad Williamson, Craig Mulligan and John Cole were given life sentences for Logan's murderOn 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.

What Experts Say

"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. Image caption, Logan's body was found in the River Ogmore on 31 July 2021Legal 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.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.