Murder of Stuart Rattle

2013 murder in Melbourne, Australia

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Stuart Charles Rattle (16 November 1960 – 4 December 2013)[1] was an Australian interior designer who was murdered by Michael Anthony O’Neill, his partner of 16 years, in their South Yarra home following an argument.[2]

## Background

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Rattle was the owner of Stuart Rattle Interior Design in Melbourne,[3] a high-end interior design firm that catered to an affluent clientele.[4] His work appeared in magazines such as Belle and on television programs such as Gardening Australia.[5]

O’Neill, originally from Ireland, was working as a waiter at an Italian bistro when he met Rattle in the 1990s.[6] O’Neill began working for Rattle's firm, where his responsibilities included accounting, quoting, invoicing and ordering stock for clients.[7]

## Murder

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On 4 December 2013, O’Neill struck Rattle with a frying pan and then strangled him with a dog leash after an argument. O’Neill pretended for the next five days that Rattle was still alive, sending text messages from Rattle's phone and telling friends Rattle was unwell.[2] He then burned down the home and attempted to make it appear to be an accident involving candles.[8] O’Neill confessed to killing Rattle when police found inconsistencies in his account of what happened.[9]

## Trial

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O’Neill pleaded guilty to one count of murder and one count of arson.[10] He was diagnosed with ‘dependent personality disorder with prominent features of narcissistic personality disorder’ by his treating psychologist; defence counsel argued this was a mitigating factor, which the prosecution did not contest.[11] O’Neill was sentenced to 18 years in prison with a non-parole period of 13 years.[12]

Rattle's estate, worth one million dollars, was given to his parents after the court deemed O’Neill, the beneficiary of Rattle's will, ineligible to benefit.[13]

## Books

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The murder was the subject of the book Smoke and Mirrors by Robin Bowles.[14]

Rattle's home was profiled in the book Stuart Rattle’s Musk Farm, featuring a foreword by Paul Bangay.[15]

A tribute to Rattle appeared in Vogue Australia.[16]

## See also

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* Murder of Brent Sikkema
* Death of Janne Puhakka

## References

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1. ^ "Coroner's Report" (PDF).
2. ^ a b "Stuart Rattle murder: Partner who strangled prominent interior designer with dog leash jailed for 18 years". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
3. ^ "Be our guest: bathroom makeover ideas". 9Now. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
4. ^ Carbone, Suzanne (3 September 2014). "Stuart Rattle, Michael O'Neill and the story behind the perfect smiling couple". The Age. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
5. ^ Carlyon, Patrick; Dowsley, Anthony (14 December 2013). "How style icon Stuart Rattle's death went from tragedy to murder". Herald Sun. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
6. ^ Carlyon, Patrick (6 September 2014). "How Michael O'Neill hid the murder of interior designer and lover Stuart Rattle for five days". Herald Sun. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
7. ^ Mukhopadhyay, Sounak (12 February 2015). "Michael O'Neill Gets 18 Years For Murdering Interior Designer Stuart Rattle". International Business Times. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
8. ^ Flower, Wayne (December 2015). "Stuart Rattle's killer avoids extra jail time in Court of Appeal ruling". Herald Sun. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
9. ^ "Vic man who killed partner 'damaged goods'". SBS World News. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
10. ^ Russell, Mark (17 September 2014). "Killer Michael O'Neill having problems talking about murder of partner Stuart Rattle, court hears". The Age. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
11. ^ Walvisch, Jamie; Carroll, A. (January 2017). "Sentencing offenders with personality disorders: A critical analysis of DPP (Vic) v O'Neill". Melbourne University Law Review. 41 (5). Melbourne Law School: 417–444.
12. ^ "Stuart Rattle's family shattered at 18-year sentence for his killer". The Guardian. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
13. ^ Iaria, Melissa (16 November 2018). "Killer ineligible to inherit Stuart Rattle's $1m estate, court rules". The Age. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
14. ^ "Robin Bowles".
15. ^ "Stuart Rattle's Musk Farm".
16. ^ Kiely, Annemarie (11 December 2013). "A tribute to late Australian interior designer Stuart Rattle". Vogue Australia. Retrieved 14 January 2023.