Michael Atkins’ eerie diagram of bush grave site where he buried Matthew Leveson

AN EERIE diagram of where Michael Atkins buried his 20-year-old lover Matthew Leveson’s body has emerged.

Michael Atkins' diagram of Matthew Leveson's grave.

AN EERIE diagram drawn by Michael Atkins, 53, of where he buried his 20-year-old lover Matthew Leveson’s body in dense bushland has emerged.

Mr Atkins drew the diagram for police after admitting he had buried Mr Leveson’s body after the younger man “died from a drug overdose” of the substance GHB.

The grave site in bush in the Royal National Park south of Sydney was only uncovered after three attempts with police excavators to find it.

Michael Atkins told police he buried Mr Leveson’s body in a a two metre by one metre grave that was just 800mm deep.

Mr Atkins told police the burial site was 4km from Waterfall Railway Station south of Sydney, on a slope and near a hairpin bend.

Michael Atkins’ diagram of Matthew Leveson's grave site.

Michael Atkins's diagram of where he claims he found Mr Leveson's body.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin said police had driven with Mr Atkins late last year after he drew the diagram of where he had buried Mr Leveson.

“We were directed by Mr Atkins in a car ... to Waterfall (railway station) and to McKell Avenue, the road where the body was found,” Insp Jubelin said.

“Mr Atkins ... was confident it was that road. He had a look around.

“We continued along the road and there was another car park ... a gravel clearing that leads on to a walking track with a hairpin bend.

“When we got out, Mr Atkins seemed to be more confident.”

After Mr Atkins drew the diagram, police also gave him a 70kg mannequin to put in and remove from a vehicle in the Royal National Park in an attempt to find Mr Leveson’s remains.

And Mr Leveson’s family agreed to lending police their son’s car, which Mr Atkins had used to transport Matthew’s body from their Sydney flat to the burial site.

An inquest into Mr Leveson’s death this week heard that Mr Atkins removed the “boom box” speaker from the bottom of Matthew’s car, then placed it in the body wrapped in a blanket or sheet.

Over three days earlier this year, Mr Atkins used Mr Leveson’s car to try and refresh his memory about where he buried Matthew in 2007.

Giving evidence at Mr Leveson’s inquest in Sydney, Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin said Mr Atkins had given police graphic details of the hole he had dug.

Police took him to areas in bushland during the day and at night in efforts to help him remember where he had buried Mr Leveson.

Insp Jubelin said a police excavator used in two attempts to find Mr Leveson’s body had been employed a third time, in May this year, using a shallow “scraping”.

This replaced earlier deeper digging after Mr Atkins indicated the size of the hole he buried Mr Leveson in.

Michael Atkins and Matthew Leveson.

A statement made by Michael Atkins outlining what happened before Matthew’s death and describing where he had buried his lover’s body was tendered to the inquest.

Mr Leveson’s remains were found in bushland two months ago, in the Royal National Park south of Sydney.

His remains were located after the inquest was halted last year and Mr Atkins was granted immunity to provide details of where Matthew’s body could be found.

Mr Atkins told police the reason he decided to cover up his boyfriend’s death was fear about his reputation, the fact that drugs were involved and that he had only recently come out as a homosexual.

“He (Mr Atkins) had concerns about his reputation,” Insp Jubelin said.

“He was the older partner of a young male, had only recently come out as a homosexual.

“He was responsible for looking out for him (Mr Leveson).

“His (Mr Atkins’) mother didn’t know he was homosexual.”

Later on that Sunday, Mr Atkins formed the plan to dispose of the body and went to Bunnings to buy a mattock and duct tape.

He wrapped Mr Leveson’s body “in a blanket or sheet” and pushed Matthew’s car out of the car space after removing the boom box from the boot to make room for his body.

Mr Atkins waited until it became dark and drove to Waterfall in the Royal National Park at around midnight.

He carried Mr Leveson’s body from the car to a spot in the bush and began digging a hole.

Insp Jubelin said a police excavator used in two attempts to find Mr Leveson’s body had been employed a third time, in May this year, using a shallow “scraping”.

The scraping uncovered Mr Leveson’s partly exposed skull.