The $1 million estate of an Melbourne interior designer bludgeoned and strangled with a dog leash in his luxury apartment will be shared among his parents, after a court ruled his killer partner ineligible to benefit.
Stuart Charles Rattle died in December 2013, after being struck with a fry pan, then strangled with a nylon dog leash by his partner of 16 years, Michael O'Neill.
The Supreme Court said O'Neill forfeited his interest in Mr Rattle's will by killing him, and Mr Rattle's estate should be split equally among his mother and the estate of his deceased father.
O'Neill was jailed for 18 years, with a minimum of 13 years, for murdering Mr Rattle, then setting their apartment on fire.
As he was strangled, Mr Rattle begged O'Neill for his life, saying "Michael don't do this".
O'Neill put Mr Rattle's body into a furniture bag, placed it on their bed and carried on for the next five days as if he was still alive.
In the days that followed, he acted grief stricken.
After Mr Rattle's death, the court was asked to determine how his estate should be split.
O'Neill had been the main beneficiary of his 2006 will, but if Mr O'Neill died first, the estate would go to his sisters, Mr O'Neill's sister and his godsons.
The court also heard evidence from Mr O'Neill that Mr Rattle did not want his parents to benefit from his company shares worth $550,000.
However, the court ruled that will should not take effect.
Instead, Mr Rattle's estate would be treated as if he died without a valid will, with it split equally among his mother and the estate of his deceased father.
Australian Associated Press
