Man, 39, is charged with murdering Logan Mwangi, five

The step-father of five-year-old Logan Mwangi, who was found dead in a Welsh river at the weekend, has tonight been charged with his murder, while the boy’s mother and a 13-year-old boy are accused of perverting the course of justice. 

John Cole, 39, from Sarn, Bridgend, is due in court on Thursday morning, accused of carrying out the killing. 

Cole, also known as Jay, his partner and Logan’s mother, Angharad Williamson, 30, also from Sarn, and a 13-year-old boy have been jointly charged with perverting the course of justice.

All three have been remanded in custody and will appear before Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Logan Mwangi is pictured with his mother Angharad Williamson and stepfather John Cole, also known as Jay, who is Miss Williamson’s partner

Tragic Logan Mwangi was found in the River Ogmore close to his home in the village of Sarn near Bridgend early on Saturday

Cole and Angharad Williamson, pictured, have both been charged by police overnight

The couple (pictured together) were planning on getting married next year, with Logan excited about being a pageboy

Pictured: A police diver surfaces in the bank of river Ogmore in Lower Llansantffraid in Sarn near Bridgend, Wales

Logan’s body was found in the Ogmore River near Pandy Park in Bridgend on Saturday after police were called to a report of a missing child.

He was taken to the Princess of Wales Hospital, where it was confirmed he had died. 

Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Mark O’Shea, said: ‘This is a very harrowing case for all involved and I extend my deepest sympathies to Logan’s family and friends.

‘This remains an extensive and sensitive investigation by the Major Crime Investigation Team and I am grateful to the local community for its support and understanding while we have continued to gather evidence across several scenes.

‘Legal proceedings are now underway and I want to remind everyone to avoid speculation which may prejudice this investigation.

‘We continue to appeal to anyone who has any information in relation to the incident to contact the Major Crime Investigation Team.’    

Family friends said they received a phone call on Saturday morning from Miss Williamson to say Logan had been taken to the nearby Prince of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.

She is said to have collapsed when doctors told her Logan could not be saved.

Logan, five, is pictured at the Ogmore River in Sarn near Bridgend where he was found dead on Saturday

Floral tributes near the scene where the body of five-year-old Logan was found in Sarn, Bridgend

A police officer near the scene after Logan was found in the Ogmore River in the early hours of Saturday morning

Police tape at a property in the Sarn area of Bridgend, near to where five-year-old Logan was found dead 

Family friends paid tribute online to the ‘kind, funny, polite, handsome and clever’ boy. Those wanting to pay their respects were encouraged to place teddy bears at a lamppost and footbridge near where his body was found.  

Many of those who came to lay tributes said they did not know Logan or his family but travelled to the area after hearing news of his death. 

Logan was in a nursery class at Brynmenyn Primary School in Bridgend where he was loved by pupils and staff. 

Mother Lois Shepherd, 25, left a cuddly toy baby shark chosen by daughter Maisie-Rae, four. She said: ‘I’m just shocked and gobsmacked – the is such a small community everyone is feeling the pain of what happened.’

Messages left at the river bank include: ‘Fly high Logan, sending love and kisses,’ ‘RIP angel’ and ‘Thinking of you.’

A mother of two who drove two miles to the scene said through tears: ‘I didn’t know the little boy and his family but I felt I had to come. It’s so sad, I can’t comprehend what the family is going through.’ 

It was reported earlier this week that Williamson had been due to marry her fiancé Cole, a carer, next year after he proposed in May – and Logan was said to have been ‘beyond excited’ about the wedding, where he was set to be a pageboy.

Logan and his family had recently returned from a holiday in Blackpool and contracted Covid-19 during the trip. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact South Wales Police via mipp.police.uk.

Alternatively, they can call 101 quoting reference number 2100268674.