Matthew Leveson inquest: Mum breaks down after hearing son was strangled or smothered to death

MATT Leveson’s mother Faye Leveson broke down outside court today after the family told the coroner that their son was strangled or smothered to death by his lover.

Matt Leveson’s mother Faye Leveson broke down outside court today after the family told the coroner that their son was strangled or smothered to death by his lover.

Matt’s father Mark Leveson told the inquest into his son’s death that the circumstantial evidence was overwhelming that Matt was murdered by his older lover and convicted drug dealer Michael Atkins.

Atkins, 56, was acquitted by a jury in 2009 of Matt’s murder or manslaughter and it was not until this year that the 20-year-old’s remains were found in the Royal National Park south of Sydney after Atkins admitted to burying him.

Michael Atkins likely strangled or smothered lover Matthew Leveson, a court heard

Atkins has claimed he panicked after Matt died of a drug overdose when they returned to their Cronulla flat from Sydney’s Arq nightclub in the early hours of September 23, 2007.

But in final submissions to deputy state coroner Elaine Truscott today, Mark Leveson said that Atkins’ actions were not those of someone who had lost their loved one to an accidental death.

Instead Atkins, who has sold his Brisbane home and got into hiding since the inquest began, had been “cold and calculating” in the lies he had told.

Faye Leveson broke down outside court following the inquest today.

He maintained at his trial and at the start of the inquest that Matt had walked out on him and may still be alive and living overseas despite his passport being found in the Cronulla unit they shared.

Atkins only admitted to burying Matt after being given immunity from prosecution for any new trial on the murder or manslaughter and being threatened with prosecution for perjury at the inquest.

NSW Police Forensics officers sift through dirt as they begin to exhume Matthew Leveson’s remains/

“When all the points I raised are taken together, there can be no other conclusions made other than Matt Leveson died at the hand of Michael Atkins, most likely as a result of smothering or strangulation when Atkins gained the upper hand because of his jujitsu skills or because of Matt’s drug affected condition,” Mark Leveson said.

Counsel assisting the inquest, Tim Game SC, said that while Atkins had set up a false trail after Matt’s death and told numerous lies, there was no evidence that he had killed Matt.

Atkins’ counsel, Claire Wasley, told the inquest that she had nothing to add to her half-page submission on behalf of Atkins.

Atkins was convicted of drug dealing and jailed for 12 months after Matt died

The coroner has reserved her findings. She has to determine the manner and cause of Matt’s death.