Grief-stricken parents of Matthew Leveson share tribute on what would have been his 35th birthday

Matthew Leveson’s grieving parents have issued a poignant tribute to their son on what should have been his 35th birthday. 

Four years after his body was found in a makeshift bush grave, Matthew’s parents revealed he would ‘always [be] nearly 21 in our eyes’.  

Matthew was last seen leaving Darlinghurst’s Arq nightclub on September 23, 2007 with his then partner Michael Atkins, then 44, who was later acquitted of murder. 

‘Happy 35th Matty. Stolen from us way too soon,’ Mr Leveson wrote in a touching Twitter tribute on Sunday. 

‘Always nearly 21 in our eyes, but forever in our hearts. Death leaves a heartache that no one can heal, love leaves a memory that no one can steal. 

‘Hope you’re dancing and partying hard somewhere mate. Love Mum and Dad.’

Matthew (right) was last seen leaving Darlinghurst’s Arq nightclub on September 23, 2007 with his then partner Michael Atkins, then 44, (left) who was later acquitted of murder

Mr Leveson posted a photo of Matthew superimposed on a tree reminiscent of the cabbage-tree palm his body was found underneath in 2017. 

After Matthew’s remains were exhumed, the tree was dug up and relocated to his family home.   

In 2015, the heartbroken parents convinced authorities to resume a coronial inquest into their son’s disappearance and presumed death. 

The coronial inquiry was initially 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 agreements, eventually directed police to a spot where they found his body. 

‘Always nearly 21 in our eyes, but forever in our hearts. Death leaves a heartache that no one can heal, love leaves a memory that no one can steal,’ Matt’s father tweeted on Sunday

The couple farewelled their beloved boy more than a decade after he went missing at a funeral in the South and West Chapels of Woronora Cemetery in Sutherland in March of 2018

Matt’s remains were recovered from underneath a palm tree in the Royal National Park in Sutherland Shire in Sydney’s south in mid-2017. 

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 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.

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.

Matt’s remains were recovered from underneath a palm tree in the Royal National Park in Sutherland Shire in Sydney’s south in mid-2017

Before Matt’s remains were recovered, the Levesons’ (pictured in 2017) campaigned for further investigation into his death and personally conducted searches for his body

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. 

In December 2017, Deputy State Coroner Elaine Truscott announced she had been tasked with conducting another inquest into Matt’s disappearance. 

His grieving parents were desperate for answers as to how, why and where their beloved son died. 

‘The evidence established that the only person who knew the answers to those questions was Michael Atkins,’ Ms Truscott said.

‘I do not accept Mr Atkins as a witness of truth,’ the coroner 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.’ 

‘He was a very caring kid who put thought into presents he bought you and made his own cards,’ Matt’s mother Faye told guests at his funeral in March of 2018

Faye and Mark Leveson (pictured) convinced authorities to resume a coronial inquest into their son’s disappearance and presumed death in 2015

Atkins was eventually charged with murder but acquitted by a jury in 2009.

He has since relocated to Queensland where he works as an electrician. 

Before Matt’s remains were recovered, the Levesons’ campaigned for further investigation into his death and personally conducted searches for his body. 

Even today, Mr Leveson routinely retweets missing person’s alerts from the NSW Police Force after his own son vanished without a trace for over a decade. 

The couple finally farewelled their beloved boy at a funeral in the South and West Chapels of Woronora Cemetery in Sutherland in March, 2018. 

Atkins (pictured in 2016) was eventually charged with murder but acquitted by a jury. He has since relocated to Queensland where he works as an electrician

Hundreds of friends and family members attended Matt’s funeral in March, 2018, to support the Levesons’ as they paid tribute to their ‘bright, vibrant and creative’ son

Hundreds of friends and family members attended the ceremony to support the Levesons’ as they paid tribute to their ‘bright, vibrant and creative’ son.  

Attendees had been asked wear bright colours and a splash of Matt’s favourite colour purple as they celebrated his 20 years of life. 

The service included Matt’s favourite songs, photographs and stories to show guests what he was like through his childhood, schooling and early adulthood. 

‘He was a very caring kid who put thought into presents he bought you and made his own cards,’ Matt’s mother Faye told guests. 

‘He was just a lovely kid and we want people to see that side of him, not what’s been put in the paper.’