Levesons praise strength of families of slain Bowraville kids

Faye and Mark Leveson have praised the families of the murdered Bowraville kids, calling them “amazing people” who have “never given up”. Their son Matthew’s body was found after nine years and a coronial inquest into his death.

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There aren’t many people as brave as the Levesons, but they insist that the families of the murdered Bowraville children are even “stronger than they are.’’

Faye and Mark Leveson – whose son Matthew went missing in 2007 – have praised the efforts of the families of Colleen Walker, Evelyn Greenup and Clinton Speedy-Duroux, commending their unconditional persistence and tenacity.

Matthew Leveson’s parents Mark and Faye are backing Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“They’ve been going on three decades and they still haven’t given up, they’re just amazing,” Ms Leveson told The Sunday Telegraph.

“I think they’re stronger than us, they’ve had to put up with a lot of crap, more crap than we’ve had to put up with and I back them 100 per cent to do something about it.”

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The remains of the Leveson’s 20-year-old son Matthew were found buried in a shallow grave at the Royal National Park in 2017 after an excruciating nine-year long search to locate the body.

Matthew’s boyfriend Michael Atkins eventually led police to the burial site under a deal cut to grant him immunity from prosecution.

Mr Atkins signed an induced statement in November 2016, protecting him from any information he gave police being used against him.

Matthew Leveson with his former boyfriend Michael Atkins.

In his statement, Mr Atkins claimed Mr Leveson died of an overdose and he found his body in their bedroom and buried Matthew out of panic, a statement the Levesons vehemently dispute.

Coroner Elaine Truscott was “unable to positively determine — to the requisite standard — how or why Matt died” following an extensive inquiry and despite being captured on Bunnings CCTV footage purchasing a mattock and duct tape on the day Matthew disappeared, he was never convicted of murder.

Mr Atkins, a free man now aged 57, is believed to be living in Brisbane.

Evelyn Greenup’s family including cousin Yarra Straede, aunt Michelle Jarrett, sister Lytiah Stadhams and aunt Penny Stadhams. Picture: Nathan Edwards

Mark Leveson – whose arm tattoo reads “it’s always too soon to quit” – said taking no for an answer was never an option in the search for Matthew and has pleaded with the Bowraville families to never give up hope.

“With the strength of an inquest, we got Matt back,” Mr Leveson said.

“That’s why we just hope the people in Bowraville do go down that path, then maybe they could recover Colleen and at least get her remains back.

Colleen Walker.

Clinton Speedy.

“It’s taken such a toll on all the families, they’ve got generation after generation now fighting for justice, some family members have passed away not knowing and that’s the saddest thing.”

On Wednesday, nearly 30 years after the Bowraville murders, a $1 million reward was offered by police in a last-ditch attempt to find more information about the deaths of Colleen, Evelyn and Clinton.

The last picture ever of Evelyn Greenup taken one week before her murder in 1990.

“There’s finally been a $1 million reward offered, that should have been done years ago,” Ms Leveson said.

“There’s just no words to describe what you go through, nothing can describe the heartache.

“Even though we’ve got Matty home now, you still think about all those years he was out there in an unmarked grave and that’s just so wrong for a human to be treated like that.

“Matty’s staying home now, he was out in the cold long enough.

“For the people who have done this (in Bowraville), I hope they rot in hell I really do, I hope there’s a place worse than hell.”

Originally published as Levesons praise strength of families of slain Bowraville kids