Inquest into the death of Matthew Leveson resumes

UPDATE: Martial arts expert Michael Atkins has claimed he woke after a night out with Matt Leveson to find his young lover dead from an apparent drug overdose, it has been revealed.

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MARTIAL arts expert Michael Atkins claimed he woke after a night out with his young lover to find him dead from an apparent drug overdose.

Atkins, 54, said he bought a mattock and duct tape and buried 20-year-old Matt Leveson’s body in the Royal National Park, south of Sydney, rather than calling paramedics because he was thinking about his own reputation as he had just come out as a gay man.

This is Atkins’ version of Matt’s death in 2007 that homicide detectives have told the resumed inquest into Matt’s death they don’t believe is the truth, and which could force Atkins back into the witness box.

Matt Leveson was 20 when he was last seen in the early hours of September 23, 2007.

In a 21-page statement to police in December last year, Atkins said that he and Matt had fallen out at Darlinghurst’s ARQ nightclub and when they got home to the Cronulla flat they shared, Matt had gone to bed and Atkins slept on the couch.

When he woke, he realised Matt was dead and found a bottle of the date rape drug GHB in the kitchen.

The development comes as it was revealed Atkins was twice hypnotised to help him recall where he had buried Matt’s body.

The search for Matt’s remains had stalled after Atkins led police to two areas near carparks in the Royal National Park earlier this year, the inquest at Glebe Coroner’s Court heard.

Atkins had told homicide detectives he believed he had carried Matt’s body about 70-80m away from the spot where he had parked Matt’s car, a blue hatchback, off the main road into the park from Waterfall.

Michael Atkins was twice hypnotised to help him recall where he had buried Matt Leveson’s body.

But when police gave him a 70kg mannequin to carry, Atkins realised he could not have carried his lover’s body that far and the search shrank to 15-20m from the carparks.

Two hypnosis sessions, watched by detectives, helped narrow the search and then Atkins was given Matt’s car, which had been saved by his parents Mark and Faye Leveson, to drive around in for two days to re-enact that tragic final journey from the Cronulla flat they shared, the inquest heard.

Matt’s body was found on May 31 this year, nine years, eight months and eight days after he was last seen leaving ARQ nightclub with Atkins.

The blue hatchback was retained by Mr and Mrs Leveson after it was found abandoned in Sutherland soon after Matt disappeared in 2007.

POLICE DON’T BELIEVE ATKINS

ATKINS may be forced to face the inquest into the death of his young lover Matthew Leveson because police don’t believe he has told them the truth.

Despite leading homicide detectives to Matt’s bush grave, police do not believe what he told them about how the 20-year-old died, the inquest into Matt’s death heard today.

Michael Atkins and Matthew Leveson.

Glebe Coroner’s Court was packed for the resumption of the notorious inquest which began with deputy state coroner Elaine Truscott asking Matt’s younger brother to remove his cap while in the pubic gallery.

“Can I ask you to take your hat off Jason,” Ms Truscott asked from the bench.

“Can I ask you to put a man in jail?” Jason Leveson countered.

He was allowed to keep his cap on his head.

Atkins, who has sold his Brisbane flat and gone into hiding since the inquest resumed last year, was acquitted of Matt’s murder or manslaughter by a Supreme Court jury in 2009.

As Matt’s parents, Mark and Faye Leveson, desperately sought to find Matt’s body, Atkins was given immunity from prosecution for being retried for murder, and then immunity from perjury after lying to the inquest if he led police to the body.

Matthew Leveson remains were found in the NSW Royal National Park three months ago.

Mark and Faye Leveson, the parents of Matthew Leveson, arrive at Glebe Coroner’s Court today. Picture: David Moir

Matt Leveson was 20 when he was last seen in the early hours of September 23, 2007, as he left Darlinghurst’s ARQ nightclub.

Atkins said they returned to the Cronulla unit the two men shared. But police discovered Atkins had lied when he said he had not left the flat that day.

Atkins was caught on CCTV footage buying a mattock and duct tape at Bunnings. He claimed he was going to dig a garden.

Matt’s skeletal remains were found in June this year after Atkins drew a diagram for police about where they were and led them to the spot, the inquest heard today.

Matthew with his mother Faye in 2007.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Tim Game SC, said the coroner could not make findings as to the manner and cause of Matt’s death based on what Atkins said in his statement to police before Matt’s remains were discovered because it is not believed to be the truth.

If Atkins’ lawyers pressed the contents of the statement as the truth, then it was “inevitable” that Atkins would have to go into the witness box, Mr Game said.

Atkins was not at court today although he remains under subpoena to attend the inquest when required.