First Court Date Of Leveson Murder Trial
Yesterday was the first court date in the Matthew Leveson murder trial, and while members of Matthew’s family made an appearance, the accused, Michael Peter Atkins, did not.
At Sutherland Court yesterday, Atkins asked to stay in the holding cell, rather than appear before Matthew’s family, and those in the public gallery. He didn’t apply for bail either.
Matthew was last seen in the early hours of September 23 last year, leaving Darlinghurst gay club Arq, with his boyfriend Atkins. Police allege that Atkins killed Matthew later that morning, sometime between 3.30am and noon.
Outside the court Leveson’s father expressed his disappointment at Atkins’ decision not to appear. “It’s a bit cowardly. I would have at least thought he would have had the courage to come up and look us in the eye,” he said.
Meanwhile, Matthew’s mother Faye talked of the betrayal the family felt when they found out Atkins had been charged with Matthew’s murder.
“We let him into our family. We accepted him and he came to our family gatherings,” she said.
The family are now gearing up for the remainder of the trial, and say that they just want to know where Matthew’s body is now, so they can at least have some form of closure.
Atkins will appear in Central Local Court next month.
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bby_megzi
said on the 8th Aug, 2008