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 designer

Michael O'Neill (left) and Stuart Rattle. Photo: Supplied

A-list interior designer Stuart Rattle and Michael O'Neill were known as the "A Gays".

The handsome couple lived and worked together in Rattle's high-end interior design business. Sought after by the wealthy and connected, they circulated with the "A Gays", a good-looking and social clique from the worlds of art, design, fashion, hairdressing, food and wine.

They were surrounded by beautiful antiques and fabrics, they lived in South Yarra and had a prized getaway, Rattle's beloved Musk Farm, near Daylesford. They travelled in style in a Range Rover flew first-class. To some, they were the perfect, smiling couple.

Now O'Neill is staring at the prospect of bedding down in jail after pleading guilty to murdering Rattle and arson. O'Neill, 48, pleaded guilty to murdering Rattle, 53, by hitting him over the head with a saucepan and strangling him with a nylon dog lead on December 4. O'Neill also pleaded guilty to arson by setting fire to their South Yarra home four days later while Rattle lay dead in his bed.

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How did the lives of two men who loved each other and were partners for 16 years end in murder?

Those close to the duo have speculated about a business that was in disarray and the emotional state of O'Neill. While Rattle was the face of the business, O'Neill grew resentful of being the office boy and, from what friends say, an inept one who was out of his depth and a pathological liar about his background and most other things.

People called O'Neill "The Talented Mr Ripley" and he was an exasperating one because no one could tell if he was lying or telling the truth.

Bespoke furniture maker Kim Moir knew Rattle for 22 years and O'Neill for 16, saying: "Michael has always been staggeringly unusual and frustrating but their relationship was always very good."

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Stuart Rattle, Michael O'Neill and the story behind the perfect smiling couple

Victim: High-profile interior designer Stuart Rattle. Photo: 7News Library

Michael O'Neill strangled his boyfriend Stuart Rattle with a dog leash, then brewed him a cup of tea and talked to the renowned interior designer's lifeless body as if nothing had happened.

O'Neill continued his life as normal for five days while Mr Rattle lay dead in their Melbourne home, spending the weekend at their country retreat, dining with friends and attending business engagements.

He even set the table for two, poured glasses of wine for his partner of 16 years and bought his favourite cake.

O'Neill maintained the charade before setting fire to the South Yarra apartment on December 9 last year to try to conceal his crime.

O'Neill, 48, on Tuesday pleaded guilty to the murder and arson.

He bludgeoned Mr Rattle with a saucepan as he lay in their bed, then strangled him with a dog leash, documents tendered to the Melbourne Magistrates Court show.

O'Neill then made his dead partner a cup of tea, according to a transcript of his police interview.

"We have dogs and they have leads, you know those sort of nylon leads, and I used one of those to strangle him. Why, I'm not quite sure," O'Neill told police.

"I don't know why I did it. I love Stuart so much - he's so good to me.

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Vic man maintained charade after killing

Good Karma Designs TV interview (Full Show) - Bill Feinberg Josh Kolkana/Place of Hope 8/26/14
Jan Rothenberg, interior designer, host of Good Karma Designs TV on WRPBiTV.com interviews Bill Feinberg, CEO of Allied Kitchen and Bath, Ft. Lauderdale talking about his family owned remodeling...

By: Jan Rothenberg

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Good Karma Designs TV interview (Full Show) - Bill Feinberg & Josh Kolkana/Place of Hope 8/26/14 - Video

Victoria

Interior designer Stuart Rattle on his rural property near Daylesford. Photo: Eamon Gallagher

The boyfriend of Stuart Rattle has pleaded guilty to murdering the renowned interior designer.

Michael O'Neill, 48, on Tuesday 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.

Mr Rattle's body was found in his burnt-out South Yarra home in December. Police alleged he had been killed days before his body was discovered by firefighters.

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Mr Rattle, who was known for his classic designs and had designed homefor many Melbourne families, lived in South Yarra and also owned afarm outside Daylesford.

O'Neil, dressed in a navy blue suit and light blue shirt, was remandedin custody to appear before the Supreme Court on September 17.

Relatives of both men were in court but left without making comment.

See original here:
Interior designer Stuart Rattle's boyfriend Michael O'Neil pleads guilty to murder

Sept. 2, 2014, 12:07 p.m.

The boyfriend of Stuart Rattle has pleaded guilty to murdering the renowned interior designer.

EARLIER:Prominent Daylesford interior designer Stuart Rattle dies in fire

The boyfriend of Stuart Rattle has pleaded guilty to murdering the renowned interior designer.

Michael O'Neil, 48, on Tuesday pleaded guilty to charges of murder and arson in Melbourne Magistrates Court.

"Yes, Your Honour, I am. I am guilty, Your Honour," O'Neil told magistrate Gerard Lethbridge when asked for a plea.

Mr Rattle's body was found in his burnt-out South Yarra home in December. Police alleged he had been killed days before his body was discovered by firefighters.

Mr Rattle, who was known for his classic designs and had designed homefor many Melbourne families, lived in South Yarra and also owned afarm outside Daylesford.

O'Neil, dressed in a navy blue suit and light blue shirt, was remandedin custody to appear before the Supreme Court on September 17.

Relatives of both men were in court but left without making comment.

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Daylesford designer's boyfriend pleads guilty to murder

Victim: High-profile interior designer Stuart Rattle. Photo: 7News Library

The long-term partner of well-known Melbourne interior designer Stuart Rattle has pleaded guilty to his murder.

Michael O'Neill, 47, pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Rattle, his partner of 16 years, and setting fire to his South Yarra apartment.

Mr Rattle's body was found by firefighters at his South Yarra home last December.

O'Neill's barrister Ruth Shann told Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday her client was in a "fragile state of mind" and had lost 20kg since his arrest.

She applied to have Mr O'Neill's record of interview with police suppressed from the media in court, saying his "intense distress is apparent" in the interview.

She said there was also an absence of an explanation for why O'Neill "spontaneously reacted as he did".

Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge rejected her application.

O'Neill, of South Yarra, pleaded guilty to murder and arson.

"I'm guilty your honour," O'Neill told the court.

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Vic man admits murdering partner

ABC Stuart Rattle was found dead in his South Yarra home in December, 2013.

Melbourne man Michael O'Neill has pleaded guilty to murdering his partner, prominent interior designer Stuart Rattle.

Mr Rattle's body was found at the couple's South Yarra home, in Melbourne's inner south-east, last December after a fire.

Police alleged O'Neill killed his partner five days before his body was discovered.

Court documents allege O'Neill hit Mr Rattle over the head with a saucepan, before strangling him with a dog leash.

The documents show he then travelled to the couple's farm in Daylesford and continued to socialise as normal, as though nothing had happened.

A committal hearing for O'Neill was to begin today, but he instead pleaded guilty to murder and arson.

The court heard O'Neill was distressed in custody and lost 20 kilograms while in the Melbourne Remand Centre.

His lawyer sought unsuccessfully to have details of the case suppressed ahead of his plea hearing.

He was committed to the Supreme Court on September 19 for a directions hearing.

Continued here:
Stuart Rattle murder: Melbourne man Michael O'Neill pleads guilty to killing interior designer partner

ABC Stuart Rattle was found dead in his South Yarra home in December, 2013.

Melbourne man Michael O'Neill has pleaded guilty to murdering his partner, prominent interior designer Stuart Rattle.

Mr Rattle's body was found at the couple's South Yarra home, in Melbourne's inner south-east, last December after a fire.

Police alleged O'Neill killed his partner five days before his body was discovered.

Court documents allege O'Neill hit Mr Rattle over the head with a saucepan, before strangling him with a dog leash.

The documents show he then travelled to the couple's farm in Daylesford and continued to socialise as normal, as though nothing had happened.

A committal hearing for O'Neill was to begin today, but he instead pleaded guilty to murder and arson.

The court heard O'Neill was distressed in custody and lost 20 kilograms while in the Melbourne Remand Centre.

His lawyer sought unsuccessfully to have details of the case suppressed ahead of his plea hearing.

He was committed to the Supreme Court on September 19 for a directions hearing.

Link:
Stuart Rattle murder: Melbourne man Michael O'Neil pleads guilty to killing interior designer partner

Sept. 2, 2014, 11:30 a.m.

VICTORIA: The boyfriend of prominent interior designer Stuart Rattle pleads guilty to his murder.

Stuart Rattle at his Musk Farm last year.

The boyfriend of Stuart Rattle has pleaded guilty to murdering the renowned interior designer.

Michael O'Neil, 48, on Tuesday pleaded guilty to charges of murder and arson in Melbourne Magistrates Court.

"Yes, Your Honour, I am. I am guilty, Your Honour," O'Neil told magistrate Gerard Lethbridge when asked for a plea.

Mr Rattle's body was found in his burnt-out South Yarra home in December. Police alleged he had been killed days before his body was discovered by firefighters.

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Mr Rattle, who was known for his classic designs and had designed homefor many Melbourne families, lived in South Yarra and also owned afarm outside Daylesford.

O'Neil, dressed in a navy blue suit and light blue shirt, was remandedin custody to appear before the Supreme Court on September 17.

Read the rest here:
Daylesford interior designer Stuart Rattle's boyfriend Michael O'Neil pleads guilty to murder