Two plead guilty to Rockefeller manslaughter

Two people have pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Melbourne multimillionaire Herman Rockefeller.

The prosecution withdrew charges of murder against Mario Schembri, of Wallan, and Bernadette Denny, of Hadfield, in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The couple then pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter by an unlawful and dangerous act.

Crown prosecutor Chris Beale SC said the crown accepted their plea and had withdrawn a charge of murder against each of them.

Neither of the accused applied for bail.

Magistrate Sarah Dawes set down a directions hearing at the Victorian Supreme Court for July 27.

They were remanded in custody.

The body of the 52-year-old property investor was found in a junk-strewn suburban backyard in Melbourne's northwest eight days after he was reported missing on January 21.

It has been claimed Mr Rockefeller was using erotic websites to find partners in Melbourne's swingers network.

Mr Rockefeller had close links to New Zealand.

He was chief financial officer for Brierley Investments from 1992 to 2000.

He was a friend of Prime Minister John Key.

- AAP