Vic killer left victim in bed for 5 days

A Melbourne man who murdered his male partner of 16 years was so deceitful he never told his family he was gay and people who knew him called him "the Talented Mr Ripley" a court has heard.

Michael Anthony O'Neill, 48, who murdered prominent interior designer Stuart Rattle in December last year lived a lie for five days after the murder, going about his usual routine, the court heard.

Crown prosecutor Gavin Silbert said O'Neill attended dinners, business appointments and even a party - telling friends and clients Mr Rattle, his partner, wasn't feeling well.

O'Neill later admitted to police he killed Mr Rattle by bashing him over the head with a frying pan then strangling him with a nylon dog leash on December 4, 2013.

Mr Silbert told the court O'Neill was a pathological liar.

He said one witness had said O'Neill would frequently say he had done something when he hadn't.

"We used to call him the talented Mr Ripley because he would lie and then get caught up," Mr Silbert quoted the witnesses as saying.

Mr Silbert said O'Neill was not qualified for the job he had of handling the money side of the business he shared with Mr Rattle and killed Mr Rattle in an act of financial preservation.

O'Neill admitted to the murder after police discovered inconsistencies with his story.

A blaze at the couple's apartment on December 9 was originally thought to be the cause of death.

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Vic killer left victim in bed for 5 days