The former partner and the last person to see Matthew Leveson who disappeared after a night out in Sydney in 2007 says it's possible he's still alive and "living in Thailand".
Michael Atkins, is giving evidence for the first time into the 20-year-old's death after the State Coroner ruled it was in the interest of justice.
The 53-year-old was granted immunity from prosecution after being acquitted of the his murder and manslaughter in 2009.
Atkins told the court he: "always thought he went to Thailand to start a new life."
When repeatedly questioned about why he would want to leave his seemingly happy life in Australia, Atkins said: "he just liked to travel and I just assumed if he wasn't here that's where he would go."
Matthew Leveson was filmed leaving ARQ nightclub in Darlinghurst with Atkins in the early hours of September 23, 2007, after an argument.
Mr Leveson was never seen again and his body has never been found.
"I thought that he just had got the shits and was just off somewhere else… I thought he would be back," said Atkins.
The court heard Atkins suffered from depression after Mr Leveson disappeared and he conceded not doing much to hunt for his partner, because that was the job of police.
During earlier hearings, CCTV footage showed Mr Atkins buying a mattock and gaffer tape later on the last day on which Matt was seen alive.
Mr Fernandez told the inquest a hardware shop receipt for the purchase carried Mr Atkins' DNA and was found inside Mr Leveson's car, which was later discovered abandoned in the Sutherland area.
Mr Atkins had never confessed to the murder but had given several versions of events, Mr Fernandez said.
He also slept with two other men the week he disappeared.
The court heard the pair met on a dating website and were in a very loving relationship.
Atkins told the court he pretended to be ten years younger than he was so he could meet younger men like Mr Leveson.
Mr Leveson's father will have the opportunity to question Atkins as the inquest continues.
