Recovery of bones after search for Matthew Leveson’s body
UPDATE: The parents of murdered Sydney man Matthew Leveson have laid flowers at the site where human remains were found, as police said they believe the remains belong to the missing 20-year-old.
NSW
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THE parents of murdered Sydney man Matthew Leveson have laid flowers at the site where human remains were found, as police said they believe the remains belong to the missing 20-year-old.
Mark and Faye Leveson brought flowers this morning to the site just off McKell Ave in the Royal National Park, where police found the remains about 2.30pm yesterday.
Homicide Squad Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin said “police believe the remains are that of Matthew Leveson”.
“While we need to await the results of forensic examinations for absolute confirmation, we believe what we have found is consistent with this being Matthew,” Det Ch Insp Jubelin said.
“The loss of a loved one is never easy to deal with, but the grief can be even harder to overcome when you can’t lay them to rest.
“We hope the Levesons will soon be able to properly — and respectfully — say goodbye to Matthew.”
The NSW coroner has been to the potential burial site, which police have shielded from public view, and initial tests suggest the remains are consistent with Matthew’s age.
Matthew was last seen leaving Darlinghurst’s ARQ nightclub in 2007 with then-boyfriend Michael Atkins.
Police have been searching the area since November 2016 when they were led to the remote site by Atkins.
He was acquitted in 2009 of Matthew’s murder, but last year told authorities where the body was after striking a deal with NSW’s attorney-general for immunity from perjury and contempt of court.
The immunity applied to evidence Atkins was compelled to give at a coronial inquest where he denied killing his boyfriend.
The Levesons today said they don’t know where Mr Atkins, who led police to their son’s body, currently is, but remain hopeful they may one day bring him to justice.
“Our laws have got to change, the victims have got to have a voice,” Mrs Leveson said.
“Atkins, he could have finished this nine and half years ago but he didn’t, he chose to hide, to hide in Queensland while we suffer, he never came down here, he never had to watch us dig to watch us every single day,” Mrs Leveson said.
“He had his rights to stay up there (in Queensland) and hide and we had to come down every single day and watch.”
Her husband Mark said it had not brought closure for their family.
“If any of the jurors on Matthew trial saw this, what the hell are you thinking?” Mr Leveson said.
“Were looking for justice, for resolution but not closure.”
The remains will be examined by a forensic pathologist and an anthropologist before possible DNA testing.
Yesterday was the eighth day in the latest search to find Matthew’s remains.
It was the third major search in six months after operations in November and January failed to find any traces.
Mrs Leveson said it had been nine years, eight months and eight days since her son disappeared but she had never given up hope.
“We made a promise (to find him) and we kept it and now we can lay him to rest if it turns out to be Matt,” she said.
“Our boys won’t have to go through their lives looking for their brother.”
Det Ch Insp Jubelin declined to weigh in on what the discovery meant for Mr Atkins.
“It’s a matter that’s still before the coroner,” he said.
“Our focus at this point in time is the recovery of the remains.”
Attorney-General Mark Speakman said it would be premature to comment on the investigation before the remains were analysed.
“It is also important to keep in mind that the investigation is part of a coronial inquest which must run its course,” he said.
“I hope that some comfort is closer for the family of Matthew Leveson.”
The inquest into Matthew’s death is scheduled to resume in August.
Mrs Leveson still cannot stand to hear Mr Atkins’ name.
“He could have ended this nine years, eight months and eight days ago and he chose not to. He chose to stay in Queensland and not come down, he could have been down here helping but no, he didn’t.
Mr Leveson said: “He should have been here chained to a tree watching. He described the area as “a nice, peaceful place”.
“There’s still more to do, so this is just one more step, or one more battle in the war.”
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