While Matt Leveson’s parents finally held a funeral for their boy on Friday, the middle-aged man they blame for his death continued his cowardly life on the run.
Matt was just 20 when his much older lover Michael Atkins dumped his body in a bush grave south of Sydney more than a decade ago.
For most of the time since he was acquitted of Matt’s murder, Atkins has been living in Queensland, much of it looking over his shoulder.
For most of the time since he was acquitted of Matt’s murder, Atkins (pictured leaving the Coroner’s Court of New South Wales in 2016) has been living in Queensland, much of it looking over his shoulder
Matt was just 20 when his much older lover Michael Atkins dumped his body in a bush grave south of Sydney more than a decade ago. Pictured: The couple together
The electrician (left with Matt) has moved from house to house, shunned by most of the gay community and rarely breaking cover
The electrician has moved from house to house, shunned by most of the gay community and rarely breaking cover.
While Atkins has been running and hiding for years, Matt’s family has fought relentlessly for justice for their son.
The now 54-year-old moves his meagre belongings – often suddenly – without leaving a forwarding address and tells lies when he finds a new one.
Atkins has told prospective landlords he needs short-term accommodation because he has split from his non-existent wife.
He picks cheap places to stay among other shift workers he presumably thinks won’t recognise him.
He has told fellow tenants in Brisbane he is working as an electrician in Ipswich, an hour’s drive south-west of town.
While Matt Leveson’s parents (pictured) finally held a funeral for their boy on Friday, the middle-aged man they blame for his death continued his cowardly life on the run
While Atkins (left) has been running and hiding for years, Matt’s family has fought relentlessly for justice for their son
Atkins (left) has told prospective landlords he needs short-term accommodation because he has split from his non-existent wife
Leaving home about 5am he returns by 6 or 7pm and then spends his weekends out and about.
He may not be wanted by the law but he is trying hard to stay out of the public eye.
There was a time Michael Peter Atkins was not so hard to find.
The now 54-year-old Atkins moves his meagre belongings – often suddenly – without leaving a forwarding address and tells lies when he finds a new one
For years after Atkins was acquitted of Matt’s murder he maintained his hard-partying lifestyle, hosting what he called ‘pool parties for porn stars’ for attractive young men.
Meanwhile, Matt’s parents Faye and Mark were wielding a pick and shovel in bushland where they believed they might find his body.
As they searched, the Levesons told anyone who would listen that Atkins knew exactly where Matt was.
When Mark Leveson learnt Atkins was still associating with men Matt’s age he telephoned the parents of his latest boyfriend and anonymously warned: ‘Google Matthew Leveson’.
Matthew Leveson was finally put to rest by his parents, Mark and Faye – who wore a photo of her son on her bag (pictured)
The heartbroken parents were seen distraught as they left the chapel after an emotional service remembering their son
Hundreds of mourners gathered to remember the ‘bright and vibrant’ young man (Matthew’s casket pictured)
Worse was to come for Atkins in 2015 when the Levesons convinced authorities to resume a coronial inquest into their son’s disappearance and presumed death.
The coronial inquiry had been suspended when Atkins was charged with Matt’s murder in August 2008.
Atkins was compelled to give evidence at that inquest and after complex legal manoeuvring eventually directed police to a spot where they found his body.
Atkins has told prospective landlords he needs short-term accommodation because he has split from his non-existent wife. He picks cheap places to stay among other shift workers
Despite admitting he had buried Matt in a shallow bush grave, due to a lack of evidence of exactly how Matt died and a series of deals Atkins made to protect himself he could not be further prosecuted for any crime.
The lead investigator into Matt’s death, Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin, described Atkins late last year as ‘morally bankrupt’.
Matt’s parents, who have always maintained Atkins killed their boy, have said much worse.
Matthew (pictured) was last seen leaving a Darlinghurst nightclub in 2007 when he was 20-years-old, ending in tragedy
‘He was just a lovely kid and we want people to see that side of him, not what’s been put in the paper,’ Ms Leveson said (pictured being comforted by mourners)
Deputy State Coroner Elaine Truscott said in December last year she had been tasked with conducting an inquest into Matt’s disappearance because his parents wanted to know how, why and where he died.
‘The evidence established that the only person who knew the answers to those questions was Michael Atkins,’ Ms Truscott said.
Atkins did not take that opportunity to tell the truth. Instead he told more lies.
‘I do not accept Mr Atkins as a witness of truth,’ Ms Truscott said. ‘In any event the lies he has told do not allow me to make a finding that any act performed by him caused Matt’s death.’
Atkins could have led police to his boyfriend’s grave almost a decade before his remains were found but chose to duck and hide.
Matt was last seen leaving ARQ nightclub on Darlinghurst’s Flinders Street with Atkins, then 44, in the early hours of September 23, 2007.
Matthew’s parents described him as the ‘life of the party’ who they hoped was now ‘dancing up a storm with the angels’
Matthew’s remains were found at the Royal National Park after complex legal agreements were struck mid-2017
Pall-bearers were seen carrying Matthew’s coffin topped with a colourful floral arrangement at the chapel in Sydney
Bright, vibrant coloured flowers were handed out at the start of the service (pictured) matching those on Matthew’s coffin
Whatever happened the night Matt died does not paint Atkins in a pleasant light.
The final version of events he gave police had him finding Matt dead of a drug overdose in their apartment at Cronulla, south of Sydney.
Instead of calling an ambulance, attempting CPR – which he was trained to do – or contacting police, Atkins set about planning how best to dispose of Matt’s body.
Later that day he bought a mattock and duct tape from a Bunnings store, went home to watch television and booked two tickets the next weekend’s Sleaze Ball, a gay and lesbian dance party.
The Levesons said they didn’t want to morn the loss of their son but instead celebrate the 20 years he was with them
Friends and family celebrated the 20 years of Matthew’s life at touching ceremony more than a decade after they last saw him
Having wrapped his lover’s body in a blanket or sheet he carried him to the boot of Matt’s Toyota Corolla and drove to the Royal National Park.
There Atkins dug an 80cm deep hole roughly 2m long and 1m wide then buried the man he said was the greatest love of his life.
I cannot find that Mr Atkins was involved in any acts which were causative to Matt’s death
Deputy State Coroner Elaine Truscott
Three days after Matt’s death, Atkins drove to Newcastle and had sex with a man he had met on the internet.
When questioned by police, Atkins told lie after lie.
One of the stories Atkins told was that Matt, who was extremely close to his family, could be happily living in Thailand.
Atkins was eventually charged with murder but acquitted by a jury, who did not hear some of the evidence revealed at the later inquest, in 2009.
While Faye and Mark Leveson campaigned for further investigation into their son’s death and personally conducted searches for his body Atkins moved to Brisbane where he continued pursuing young men for group sex romps.
The Levesons comforted heartbroken friends and family at the touching ceremony for their late son (pictured)
Guests were asked to wear a splash of purple, ‘Matty’s’ favourite colour as well as bright colours at the ceremony (pictured)
Despite the 20-year-old tragically vanishing more than a decade ago, hundreds gathered to celebrate his life
When his seemingly carefree lifestyle was revealed in the media Atkins had his gym membership cancelled, was barred from his favourite gay nightclub and fled his Fortitude Valley home, which he sold at a loss.
A petition to have him barred from every gay bar in Australia was circulated online.
Forced to give evidence at Matt’s inquest, Atkins told more lies and Ms Truscutt was unable to determine exactly how Matt had died.
The only person who knew how, why and where Matt died was Michael Atkins
Deputy State Coroner Elaine Truscott
‘Ultimately, the lies that Mr Atkins told during the course of his evidence to the inquest, as with other lies he had told to a range of people, including the police, since Matt’s disappearance, give rise to a considerable degree of suspicion that Mr Atkins had some connection with Matt’s death, apart from the fact he buried Matt’s body,’ Ms Truscott found.
‘However, it does not follow… from that degree of suspicion that I can find that Mr Atkins was involved in any acts which were causative to Matt’s death.’
The Levesons finally farewelled their beloved boy at a funeral in the South and West Chapels of Woronora Cemetery, Sutherland, on Friday afternoon.
Atkins is believed to have been up in Queensland, safe from the law but living a lie.
‘It’s meant to be a celebration of his life, being grateful for the 20 years that he was alive,’ Mr Leveson said before a ceremony
Detectives finally found Matt’s (pictured) body in May 2017 beneath a cabbage-tree palm that has since been relocated to Mark and Faye’s backyard
‘All those years of searching, we finally achieved our goal and it’s made it all so real,’ Mr Leveson said (Matthew’s parents pictured together at the ceremony)
The Levesons long promised ‘Matty’ they would give him a proper farewell and never gave up the search until they found him