Police confirm human remains found belong to Leveson
Matthew Leveson, 20, was last seen leaving a nightclub at Darlinghurst on September 23, 2007. Photo: Supplied: Mark and Faye Leveson
After nearly 10 years of searching, the parents of murdered Sydney man Matthew Leveson can finally lay their son to rest, with human remains found in dense bushland south of the city confirmed as his.
The major breakthrough in the search arrived when police scouring a section of the Royal National Park at Waterfall found remains beneath a cabbage-tree palm about 2.30pm on Wednesday.
They were taken for DNA testing and on Sunday confirmed as belonging to Mr Leveson, who was last seen nearly 10 years ago, a police spokeswoman told AAP on Sunday evening.
The Leveson family took to Facebook to thank loved ones who had helped and supported the search for the 20-year-old.
“It has now been CONFIRMED by DNA testing that the remains found WERE OF OUR BELOVED MATTY,” the post on the Justice for Matthew Leveson page reads.
“Our family would like to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts. Especially our family and friends who have stuck by our side unwaveringly throughout our journey of finding our beautiful son, brother, cousin, soulmate, best friend and friend.”
Following Wednesday’s discovery, most of the skeletal remains were taken away in cardboard boxes by forensic investigators for DNA testing on Thursday.
Detectives said they were consistent with Mr Leveson’s case but they would wait on forensic testing to confirm whether they’d found his body.
An excavator and industrial-sized sifter were used over three days to carefully gather evidence, reportedly including pieces of clothing.
Mark and Faye Leveson never gave up on finding their son’s body, spending every day at the site as well as during two previous unsuccessful search operations in November and January.
Their son was last seen leaving Darlinghurst’s ARQ nightclub in 2007 with then-boyfriend Michael Atkins who was acquitted of the younger man’s murder in 2009.
Mr Atkins led police to the burial site last year after he struck a deal with the attorney-general for immunity from perjury and contempt of court.
He’d previously been given a certificate by a NSW coroner meaning evidence he was compelled to give at the inquest into Mr Leveson’s death couldn’t be used against him in any criminal proceedings.
Legal experts say it’s now unlikely fresh charges will be laid due to the deals.
Former NSW Director of Public Prosecutions Nicholas Cowdery believes there is a “remote possibility” of a charge being resurrected but it would depend on whether compelling evidence was found at the scene establishing a fresh criminal link.
-AAP