….
I still don’t believe my son is dead now'
David Elias QC, for John Cole, begins his cross-examination of Angharad Williamson.
He said: “John Cole was a phenomenal dad wasn he?”
Williamson said: “At first…. It changed when he started getting stricter with Logan….It started getting really bad…. He was good when he was good but when he lost his temper he was bad.” She added: “As he got more comfortable with the relationship he became angrier so he was not a phenomenal dad all the way through.”
Mr Elias said: “Why did you say he was a phenomenal dad in your interview?” Williamson said: “Rose-tinted glasses…..It’s since I’ve looked back I realised how controlling and strict he was…. I thought everything he did was for the good of me, I didn’t see the overbearing, controlling, strict behaviour.”
Mr Elias said: “It suited you to find anything to put Mr Cole down when you were arrested.”
Williamson said: “Not at all…. Jay said he was in the SAS, I genuinely thought he would kill me.”
Mr Elias said: “Why did you lie to the police?”
Williamson said: "I was ashamed, I had been overpowered by a man before and had been overpowered by a man again. I didn’t want to admit I was scared….. Jay said he was going to kill me…. I couldn’t say I was scared because he would kill me.”
Mr Elias said: “You went into great detail about the threats to kill and his connection with the SAS. He told you his family were founders of the SAS. What did you think of that?”
Williamson said: “He showed me videos…. Why would I not believe him?”
Mr Elias said: “How many videos did he show you on a small black phone?”
Williamsons said: “It was a green screen and was behind enemy lines with people on it…. He said he was part of the team…."
Mr Elias said: “Part of the helicopter team?”
Williamson said: “You’re implying I’m crazy…… I had no reason to disbelieve him and it matched up with things Jordan Hunt told me…. We watched SAS Who Dares Wins together.”
Mr Elias said: “Is that where you got this from?.... Do you watch programmes in a fantasy world?”
Williamson said she liked watching documentaries and crime dramas.
The barrister refers to videos involving crocodile tears, drug dealers, and acid baths.
She said: “I was curious about the world and different documentaries and headlines…. I’m into finding out the truth about things……”
Mr Elias said: “Do you cry crocodile tears?”
Williamson said: “I know what you’re implying but no. You can’t fake tears like this when your son is dead.”
She was also asked about watching a video about a child abuse case.
Williamson said: “Yes, unfortunately there are a lot of child abuse cases on at the minute. It popped up and I watched it.”
The defendant was asked why she was embarrassed about being scared of Cole.
She said: “It gives him power, it shows him he’s got to me.”
Mr Elias said: “You’re in a police station, arrested for murder. Were you wanting to tell the truth?”
Williamson said: “Yes that’s all I’ve done and I didn’t want to admit Jay scared me…. I was ashamed and embarrassed.”
Mr Elias said: “Why did you tell those who assessed you you never feared Jay ever?"
Williamson said: “I was still hoping and praying Jay wouldn’t have done this…… he’s not scary. When I look back at the relationship, I was scared.”
Mr Elias said: “Does it suit you to say that now?”
Williamson said: “No it doesn’t, Jodie Simmonds witnessed what happened to me and knows I was scared.” She added: “I never thought anybody would believe me.”
Mr Elias said: “Jay never did assault you.” Williamson said: “He did, he put his arms around my neck.”
Mr Elias said: “Any other time? Williamson said: “No….. He didn’t slap me or punch me, he pushed me.”
Mr Elias said: “That was when you were up in his face shouting at him."
Williamson said: “I was shouting and crying but I wasn’t up in his face.”
Mr Elias said: “What you told the police about not being scared of Jay was true and when you said he never laid a finger on you that was true wasn’t it?” Williamson denied this.
She said: “I didn’t want him to be involved in any of this. I loved him so much, I loved him so so much.”
Mr Elias said: “Even when he had been accused of murdering your son?”
Williamson said: “I still don’t believe my son is dead now…This man I loved was going to spend the rest of his life with me and marry me and start a family with me. I didn’t want to believe he was involved in Logan’s death. I had no idea what happened to him and didn’t want to think he was involved.”
Mr Elias said: “Do you know how Logan died?”
Williamson said: “No I don’t…. I do know because of the autopsies.”
Mr Elias said: “Do you know who did that?”
Williamson said: “No, I don’t.”
Mr Elias said: “Do you remember sitting on the stairs at Maesglas when you were arrested by the police. You heard [the youth] upstairs. The police were doing a sensitive job, I think we can all agree. You shouted up, what did you shout?”
Williamson said: “I said: ‘You haven’t done anything wrong’......I didn’t think he was capable of that.”
The trial adjourns until 2pm for a lunch break.
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