Matthew Leveson's aggrieved parents will have to wait at least five months to find out whether the man acquitted of their son's murder will speak.
An ongoing inquest into the death of Mr Leveson, who was last seen leaving Darlinghurst's ARQ nightclub with Mr Atkins in the early hours of September 23, 2007, won't resume until August 23.
Mr Atkins told the inquest in November he lied to detectives about buying a mattock and tape on the day Mr Leveson went missing in 2007.
He was offered immunity from prosecution for perjury and contempt of court provided he could lead police to Mr Leveson's remains, but subsequent searches of bushland south of Sydney revealed nothing.
Now Mr Atkins could avoid further questioning when the inquest into Mr Leveson's presumed death resumes.
The inquest would need to consider whether Mr Atkins could be compelled to give more evidence, or if he would be protected from self-incrimination now he had the "threat of perjury over his head", counsel assisting the police Patrick Saidi told the NSW Coroner's Court on Monday.
Mr Saidi suggested to deputy coroner Elaine Truscott that the inquest be delayed until August, when legal representatives for Mr Atkins, the police and the Crown could all be available.
Mr Leveson's father, Mark, consented to the inquest delay but noted it had been 3453 days since his son went missing and 407 days since the inquest started.
But while he and wife Faye said while they were disappointed in the delay, they hadn't given up hope of finding their son's body.
"I think he'd be proud of us, we're not giving up," Mrs Leveson said.
"It might take us a lot longer than we thought ... but eventually we will find Matty."
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