Logan Mwangi: Public to help decide what happens to house where child was killed
The public is to be consulted on the future of the home where five-year-old Logan Mwangi was killed.
"Informal conversations" with local residents will be taken into account in the decision-making, according to the housing association managing the property.
Logan was found dead on July 31 last year in the River Ogmore in Sarn, Bridgend.
His mother Angharad Williamson, stepfather John Cole, and stepbrother Craig Mulligan were found guilty of his murder and jailed for a combined 72 years.
A decision is yet to be made on the fate of the Lower Llansantffraid home which has been boarded up since shortly after the murder.
Logan and Williamson had lived in the ground-floor flat and another tenant was upstairs.
Valleys To Coast Housing, which manages the building, said in a statement: "Whilst we have awaited the formal conclusion of this tragic case and subsequent closure of the two tenancies involved we have had informal conversations with people in the local community and will continue to be sensitive to their needs and feelings. We are currently in discussions with Bridgend County Borough Council about next steps.”
Back in 2014 the Welsh Government demolished the Ceinws cottage where paedophile Mark Bridger had murdered five-year-old April Jones.
Some of Logan's neighbours spoke to WalesOnline in April about what they felt should happen to his former home.
Colin Michael Fitzgerald, 79, said a "complete refurbishment" rather than demolition would be the best option.
"It's got to be painted top to bottom and the garden put to a nice standard and someone will be more than glad of it," he said.
Another of Logan's neighbours, 33-year-old Dafydd, said he would like to see a memorial bench installed but also believed it was important to think about the need for homes, especially for people fleeing war-torn countries.
He added: "I would rather it go to a loving family and someone who will have happy memories in it because God knows what memories are in there now."
Adrian Pittard, 61, of Aberkenfig, said: "I know the circumstances are bad but it's still a property and lots of people haven't got one. You can't just brick it up. I don't know if anyone local would want to live there but someone from further afield might."
During the attack Logan suffered the kind of injuries usually seen in car crash victims before his body was tossed into the river.
As well as the murder convictions, Williamson and Mulligan were found guilty of perverting the course of justice, which Cole had admitted.
Cole was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 29 years in jail, Williamson to life imprisonment with a minimum of 28 years, and Mulligan to 15 years as well as remaining on licence for life.