Thor Rasmussen appears in Port Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with the murder of a man at Semaphore

A MAN charged with the stabbing death of his housemate at Semaphore tried to clean himself and flee before police arrived, court documents reveal.

A generic image of the side of a Police car at a serious car accident on Kangarilla Road near McLaren Flat early this afternoon. Emergency services are in attendance. 15/07/15 Picture: Stephen Laffer

A MAN charged with the stabbing death of his housemate at Semaphore tried to clean himself and flee before police arrived, court documents reveal.

Thor Rasmussen, 31, appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday charged with the murder of his housemate Heath Craig McPhillips, 45, at Semaphore on Saturday.

Court documents assert Rasmussen stabbed Mr McPhillips “five times to the chest and abdomen” at the Dudley St home where the pair lived.

Mr McPhillips died at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics to revive him.

“He then allegedly washed, changed clothing and was preparing to leave as police attended,” the documents state.

The document, which outlines police reasons for refusal of bail before his court appearance, also state Rasmussen has no family in SA, other than a brother who witnessed the alleged murder.

“The serious nature and viciousness of the offence are such that police believe (Rasmussen) would pose a risk to the greater community if released and police bail is thus denied,” it states.

Rasmussen, who was dressed in a navy blue hooded jacket, did not apply for bail during his brief court appearance.

He did not speak but nodded to suggest he understood his next appearance before the court would be in February.