Saucepan and dog lead used to murder interior designer Stuart Rattle, court hears

Interior designer Stuart Rattle on his rural property near Daylesford before he was killed by his partner of 16 years. Photo: Eamon Gallagher

The boyfriend of Stuart Rattle killed the interior designer and then maintained a charade of normality for five days before trying to conceal the murder in a fire, according to court documents.

Michael Anthony O'Neill, 48, on Tuesday admitted to killing Mr Rattle, 53, in December 2013 and pleaded guilty to charges of murder and arson in Melbourne Magistrates Court.

"Yes, Your Honour, I am. I am guilty, Your Honour," O'Neill told magistrate Gerard Lethbridge when asked for a plea, as relatives of both men watched on.

Mr Rattle's body was found in the couple's burnt-out South Yarra home on December 8. But, according to a prosecution summary tendered to court, police believe O'Neill killed his partner of 16 years up to five days earlier.

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According to the summary, O'Neill took a saucepan from the kitchen about 6am on December 4 and returned to the bedroom and hit Mr Rattle over the head. He then strangled him with a nylon dog lead.

O'Neill then went through an "elaborate pretence" over the next five days to pretend everything was normal, according to the summary prepared by Chief Crown prosecutor Gavin Silbert, QC.

He maintained social and business appointments, used Mr Rattle's phone to pose as his partner and claim the designer was unwell and in bed, and visited the couple's Musk farm near Daylesford, Mr Silbert's summary says.

"The only change to his routine seems to be that he slept on the sofa rather than in the bed with the dead man," the summary says.

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Saucepan and dog lead used to murder interior designer Stuart Rattle, court hears