Michael Atkins gets off scot-free after Coroner couldn’t determine the cause of Matt Leveson’s death
MARTIAL arts expert Michael Atkins has got off scot-free after the death of his young lover Matt Leveson a decade ago. After years of relentless lies, police mistakes and remarkable legal twists, Deputy State Coroner Elaine Truscott yesterday recorded an open verdict into Matt’s death.
NSW
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MARTIAL arts expert Michael Atkins has got off scot-free after the death of his young lover Matt Leveson a decade ago.
After years of relentless lies, police mistakes and remarkable legal twists, Deputy State Coroner Elaine Truscott yesterday recorded an open verdict into Matt’s death.
Even Atkins would be considering himself lucky not to be behind bars after he finally admitted to burying Matt’s body in Sydney’s Royal National Park following a deal in which he got immunity from prosecution in return for telling the truth at the inquest.
“Atkins gets off scot-free,” Matt’s heartbroken father, Mark Leveson, said outside court yesterday.
However, he said there was “some justice” because Atkins had led them to Matt’s skeleton and the publicity around the case had splashed 54-year-old Atkins’ name across the media so his “target” market of young men were “forewarned”.
Atkins was acquitted of Matt’s murder in 2009 but the coroner said he was the only person who could provide the answers as to how Matt died. She said he had been given the opportunity to do so at the inquest after being granted immunity from prosecution to give evidence.
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“For reasons unknown to me, he did not take that opportunity,” Ms Truscott said.
“I do not accept Mr Atkins as a witness of truth.
“The lies he has told do not allow me to make a finding that any act performed by him caused Matt’s death.”
Atkins had “maintained a plethora of lies” since he was seen leaving Darlinghurst’s ARQ nightclub with Matt, 20, in the early hours of September 23, 2007, Ms Truscott said.
“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 that he buried Matt’s body,” Ms Truscott said.
She recommended Mr and Mrs Leveson be given an official police commendation for the help they had given in their relentless pursuit of justice.
The family said they accepted the open finding was the only one the coroner could have made.