A STEPDAD accused of murdering Logan Mwangi told jurors "I deserve all I get" after he dumped his body in a Nike bag in a river.
John Cole, 40, said his actions were "disgusting" after the five-year-old's horrifically injured body was pulled from the river.
He denies murdering Logan but admits moving the youngster's body in a holdall to the water after allegedly finding him dead.
Cole told Cardiff Crown Court today: "I regret that since the moment I did it.
"It was disgusting and I deserve all I get for that."
He is on trial with Logan's mum Angharad Williamson, 30, and a 14-year-old boy accused of murder and perverting the course of justice.
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The court was told Cole squeezed Logan's lifeless 3ft 5ins body into a Nike holdall which measured just 2ft 2ins long.
He claimed he was helped by Williamson, who branded Cole a "liar" from the dock today.
The stepdad also said he left the youngster on the bank of the Ogmore River in July last year and not in the water where he was found.
The court was told previously Cole hit the youngster and threw him on a bed the day before he died.
He told jurors today he "just clipped him to the head" with "no force" and "dropped" him on the bed.
The 6ft 4ins gym-goer said he was "not proud" of his actions but he denied hitting him twice in the stomach.
LOGAN 'ROW'
During cross examination, Williamson's barrister Peter Rouch QC asked about an alleged row.
He said: "You said Logan was the source of your arguments and he was desperate to come out of his room.
"You said: 'You think it’s funny we’re arguing over you, you won’t be happy until you split us up'.
"You went to his room and put him in the hallway and Logan began to flinch in your presence.”
Mr Rouch continued: "You were there in the hallway towering above him and said: ‘The only thing this boy understands is pain’."
Cole replied no to both accusations but admitted he and Williamson shouted at Logan.
Mr Rouch added: "He fell on his backside and the youth [defendant] was in the hallway and you said to the youth: 'If he flinches again take him down'.
"Logan started to speak, he was stammering and spluttering and the youth did what you said and took him down. Swept him with his left leg and when he fell to the floor pressed his head into the ground.”
Cole replied: "He didn’t touch Logan, I didn’t touch Logan."
HORROR INJURIES
The court heard previously how Logan was dumped in the river after suffering a blunt force trauma.
He had 56 external injuries and a horrific catalogue of internal injuries consistent with a "fall from a great height" or a "high velocity road traffic collision".
Logan had been so battered even his tongue was bruised but tragically he was still alive for several hours after his liver and bowel were torn, it was said.
Tragically Logan is believed to have survived for several hours after the assault, meaning he may have been saved, it was said.
The court was told he had received "catastrophic" injuries to his abdomen including a tear measuring 5.5cm by 3cm on his liver and a second rip on his bowel.
Jurors heard there was also evidence Logan's collar bone had been broken in the weeks before his death – suggesting he may have been abused "over a prolonged period of time".
All three defendants, who deny murder, allegedly "prioritised their own self preservation over all else".
Cole and Williamson deny causing or allowing the death of a child but Cole admits perverting the course of justice by moving Logan's body.
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Williamson and the boy deny perverting the course of justice.
The trial continues.
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