Vic man maintained charade after killing

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