A man who dropped an eight-kilogram concrete platypus on his gay housemate as he beat him to death has been sentenced to 18 years' jail.

Aaron James Johnstone, 29, said he lost control after his drunk housemate Phillip Higgins, 46, propositioned him in September 2006.

He told police he kicked and punched Mr Higgins before dropping the platypus statue on him. He also struck him with a chair.

Johnstone was sentenced to 18 years' jail with a minimum term of 14 years at the Victorian Supreme Court today.

Justice Robert Osborn described the injuries suffered by Mr Higgins, which included six broken ribs and a battered face, as horrific.

He said Johnstone moved into the rented flat of Mr Higgins and was his friend for some years.

"Your attack was a savage betrayal of his trust and generosity," Justice Osborn said.

He said that even if Mr Higgins made advances towards his friend, his reaction was outside of what an ordinary person would do.

"I do not accept that even if Mr Higgins had made homosexual advances to you in the terms you now assert, the ordinary person might be so provoked to totally lose control and do what you did," he said.

The judge said he took into account that Johnstone was affected by alcohol at the time of the bashing, his conduct was followed by some degree of remorse and he was relatively cooperative with police.

