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THE family of murdered interior-designer Stuart Rattle say they are disappointed with the sentence handed down to his killer.
Mr Rattle’s former partner Michael O’Neill has been jailed for 18 years.
Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth said on Wednesday that Michael O'Neill, known as 'The Talented Mr Ripley' because of the way he constantly lied, had been in a "fragile psychological state" when he killed his partner of 16 years.
Justice Hollingworth accepted O'Neill, who stood in the dock with his head bowed as he was being sentenced, had murdered Mr Rattle in the heat of the moment without any forethought after an argument.
Outside court, Mr Rattle's sister, Katrina Lewin, supported by her mother, Jill, and sister, Diane Newlands, said the family was disappointed with the sentence.
"Stuart was a very special person. He was very talented, charming and generous and a wonderful brother and son. We miss him every day," Ms Lewin said.
"Stuart was at the peak of his career. His brilliance was an inspiration to many."
Ms Lewin said her brother's murder had been the waste of a beautiful life.
"We thought coming into this today that the sentence would never be enough to compensate adequately to represent Stuart's life. However, we're very disappointed with the meagre sentence that's been imposed.
"As a family, we feel shattered."
Justice Hollingworth told O'Neill that Mr Rattle had been strong, confident and successful.
"He also had a dominating, controlling personality; everything had to be done his way, both personally and professionally," the judge said.
"No doubt that was part of the key to his professional success.
"And because of your own psychological make-up, you felt inadequate. It suited you to be with someone who took control and made all the decisions."
The judge said O'Neill, who pleaded guilty to charges of murder and arson, had acted on impulse when he strangled Mr Rattle after they had argued.
"The argument involved a repitition of the controlling and belittling behaviour that had characterised Mr Rattle's relationship with you, in a situation where tensions in the relationship seem to have been increasing.
"This was certainly not the first time he had called you a 'frigid bitch' for refusing his sexual advances. But this time you snapped. You felt angry and demeaned, that everything always had to be about what he wanted. You had finally had enough. You killed him in the heat of the moment."
- The Age