Late designer Stuart Rattle's South Yarra home-shop sale
The South Yarra office and home of the murdered interior designer Stuart Rattle sold for $2.05 million at auction yesterday afternoon.
The shop front is at 411-413 Malvern Road. It cost $229,000 in 1993.
The property is where Rattle was killed by Michael O'Neill, his partner of 16 years, who later the next day set fire to the premises in December 2013.
In September of last year O'Neil plead guilty to Rattle's murder and in February was sentenced to 18 years jail.
Thomson agent Chris Stoupas had the listing with $1.8 million expectations.
It has been repaired since the fire.
The couple's retreat, Musk Farm sold last year.
No one knows for sure what happened on the morning Rattle died, as O’Neill was known for embellishing stories, author of Mind Behind The Crime, Dr Helen McGrath and Cheryl Critchley noted in their book.
It's suggested the couple woke at around 6am. O’Neill claimed that they had sex the previous night and Stuart wanted to have it again but O’Neill refused.
O’Neill left the bedroom to make breakfast. A few minutes later he returned with a heavy steel pan in his hand.
O’Neill later told police that he had intended to apologise, but before he could do so Stuart called him selfish.
He hit Stuart in the head with the pan, grabbed a dog lead from the floor and strangled him with it..
O’Neill left Stuart’s body in bed and went to Musk Farm, where he stayed until Sunday.
Upon his return O’Neill bought Indian takeaway and wine, laying out dinner for two.
Just before midnight, he lit a candle next to some curtains near where Stuart’s body still lay on the bed.