GUILTY UK - Logan Mwangi, 5, found dead in Wales River, Bridgend, 31 July 2021 *arrests, inc. minor* #5

[Alyce]

How old is he at this point? 15? I would personally assume his age is the reason he is in court via video link, it’s pretty standard and I don’t think it means anything about him as an individual. His identity is currently protected, so he can’t sit in a court with a public gallery and press etc… surely that’s obvious. When a minor is found guilty isn’t it at that point the judge can rule the restrictions are lifted?

He is 14

 

[SpursGyal]

How old is he at this point? 15? I would personally assume his age is the reason he is in court via video link, it’s pretty standard and I don’t think it means anything about him as an individual. His identity is currently protected, so he can’t sit in a court with a public gallery and press etc… surely that’s obvious. When a minor is found guilty isn’t it at that point the judge can rule the restrictions are lifted?

He has no anonymity only reporting restrictions. It’s an open court, so anyone in the courtroom can see the video link screen.

 

[Dotta]

He has no anonymity only reporting restrictions. It’s an open court, so anyone in the courtroom can see the video link screen.

Im really interested in what his Defence is going to say.
But I guess half of it will be restricted to public (his history I mean).

 

[JuicyLucy]

He has no anonymity only reporting restrictions. It’s an open court, so anyone in the courtroom can see the video link screen.

I must say I think the distinction between anonymity and reporting restrictions is fairly pointless in this day and age, when people can share information instantaneously from any location and dig up background info from a wide range of open sources. His identity might be prevented from being broadcast publicly, but at this point pretty much everyone knows who he is and much else besides.

If it's important to due process that his identity isn't 'known' other than to people who are personally connected with him or the case, then more needs to be done imo, e.g. withholding his name from the courtroom signage, ensuring the videolink can only be seen by jurors, blocking his social media etc. Even then it's all a bit like slamming the stable door tbh. I don't know what the answer is.

JMO

 

[Linnyg]

10:36JASON EVANS
Trial resumes
Croeso / Welcome to our coverage of the trial. Today barrister David Elias QC for defendant Cole will give his closing speech to the jury.

The court is assembling, and the trial will be resuming shortly.
Logan Mwangi murder trial live updates as judge gives legal directions

 

[Dotta]

10:36JASON EVANS
Trial resumes
Croeso / Welcome to our coverage of the trial. Today barrister David Elias QC for defendant Cole will give his closing speech to the jury.

The court is assembling, and the trial will be resuming shortly.
Logan Mwangi murder trial live updates as judge gives legal directions

You are really a seasoned WS court correspondent now

 

[Linnyg]

You are really a seasoned WS court correspondent now

Haha any excuse I can find to avoid actual work

 

[JuicyLucy]

Haha any excuse I can find to avoid actual work

The mark of a true Websleuther.

 

[Linnyg]

10:52JASON EVANS

David Elias QC begins his speech

Opening his speech, David Elias QC begins by telling the jury it has been a "harrowing trial", and that the death of Logan Mwangi was "truly horrific". He says his client has always accepted dumping the five-year-old boy’s body in the river - something that was "unforgivable" - and he says he recognises that means Cole will be starting at a "low point" in the minds of the jurors.



Logan Mwangi murder trial jury hears closing speeches

 

[Alyce]

Oops, I thought JC claimed he laid Logan by the side of the river. Odd for his QC to say dumped him in the river

 

[tedtink]

Oops, I thought JC claimed he laid Logan by the side of the river. Odd for his QC to say dumped him in the river

Off to a good start!

 

[altyg]

Oops, I thought JC claimed he laid Logan by the side of the river. Odd for his QC to say dumped him in the river

A slip of the tongue? I couldn't do their job, must be really difficult defending someone like AW, JC or the youth

 

[tedtink]

I’m on a work ‘coffee break’

 

[katydid23]

10:52JASON EVANS

David Elias QC begins his speech

Opening his speech, David Elias QC begins by telling the jury it has been a "harrowing trial", and that the death of Logan Mwangi was "truly horrific". He says his client has always accepted dumping the five-year-old boy’s body in the river - something that was "unforgivable" - and he says he recognises that means Cole will be starting at a "low point" in the minds of the jurors.



Logan Mwangi murder trial jury hears closing speeches

"...and he says he recognises that means Cole will be starting at a "low point" in the minds of the jurors."


"That ^^^ is quite an understatement..."

 

[Linnyg]

11:13JASON EVANS

'Evidence not theory'

The barrister says the prosecution cannot say who inflicted the fatal injuries because of the state of the evidence, and cannot say when the fatal injuries were inflicted because of the state of the evidence but that they "ask you to convict John Cole because he must have been involved", what the prosecution described as an "irresistible inference" - "in other words you are driven to that conclusion because of the evidence". The barrister asks the jurors to consider the evidence they have heard and to consider whether there are other conclusions they can come to, and to decide the matter on "evidence not theory".



Logan Mwangi murder trial jury hears closing speeches

 

[Linnyg]

11:14JASON EVANS

Mr Elias QC continues

Barrister: "Could any of the defendants acting alone have inflicted those injuries?... On the evidence you have heard, is each defendant capable in their own way of inflicting the injuries? Could the assault have occured before others in the flat were able to stop it?"

Logan Mwangi murder trial jury hears closing speeches

 

[nothinonyou]

Oops, I thought JC claimed he laid Logan by the side of the river. Odd for his QC to say dumped him in the river

maybe it's so obviously a lie he's not bothering defending it

 

[katydid23]

11:13JASON EVANS

'Evidence not theory'

The barrister says the prosecution cannot say who inflicted the fatal injuries because of the state of the evidence, and cannot say when the fatal injuries were inflicted because of the state of the evidence but that they "ask you to convict John Cole because he must have been involved", what the prosecution described as an "irresistible inference" - "in other words you are driven to that conclusion because of the evidence". The barrister asks the jurors to consider the evidence they have heard and to consider whether there are other conclusions they can come to, and to decide the matter on "evidence not theory".



Logan Mwangi murder trial jury hears closing speeches

Unfortunately for ol' John, there are not a lot of other conclusions the jurors can come to. There were 3 people in that house the night Logan died. One, two or three of them have to be the guilty parties. But none of the 3 are walking away free and untarnished. Especially John, because we saw him walking out with the child's dead body.

 

[Alyce]

maybe it's so obviously a lie he's not bothering defending it

I agree. I can't see the defence being so inaccurate on this point.

Edited to add - he has just now said - taken to the river -

hopefully there may be some other reporting which will make it clearer.

 

[Alyce]

11:14JASON EVANS
Mr Elias QC continues
Barrister: "Could any of the defendants acting alone have inflicted those injuries?... On the evidence you have heard, is each defendant capable in their own way of inflicting the injuries? Could the assault have occured before others in the flat were able to stop it?"

Logan Mwangi murder trial jury hears closing speeches

In which case, surely * others * in the flat would have called for medical aid