'Charismatic, beautiful': Matthew Leveson laid to rest more than a decade after his murder
More than 10 years after his death, the family of Matthew Leveson could finally say good bye to him on Friday.
For most of that time, his former partner Michael Atkins refused to say where his body was buried.
But at their son's funeral, Mark and Faye Leveson wanted no talk of injustice - just a celebration of their son's 20 years of life.
They had always accepted their son was dead, and for a decade, they just wanted one thing.
"We want to bring Matt home, where he belongs," Faye Leveson said.
On Friday, they did just that, with smiles and laughter - two traits that characterised their son.
"Today we can do what we set out to do," Mark Leveson said.
"We can give our Matty the proper send off he so justly deserves."
"He was young charismatic, beautiful, and he always had that beautiful smile on his face," friend Brendan Arnold said.
Jokes that celebrated a contagious smile and vibrant energy, and a man who was an avid sushi-maker and cocktail master, couldn't hide the sadness of two parents losing their son and friends losing a good mate.
"You're the most amazing best friend I could ever have, I'm so grateful to have had you for the time that I did," his best friend Rachel said.
Until now, most of what the public knew about Matthew Leveson was related to his death.
On Friday, it was his life, and his personality, that was celebrated.
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The circumstances surrounding his death - and the only man who knows exactly what happened to him - were not mentioned at all during the service.
Michael Atkins struck an immunity deal to reveal where he buried Matthew in 2007, saying it was not murder but a drug overdose.
The Levesons also had to deal with the destruction of his floral monument overnight in the Royal National Park.
But there was no bitterness on Friday, with family simply calling the service "Matty's party".
