Parents of Heath McPhillips, killed by housemate Thor Rasmussen, urge court to slow down when lifting mental health conditions

Six years ago, Heath McPhillips was killed by his flatmate after being repeatedly stabbed. Now that man wants freedom – but Mr McPhillips’ family fears he still has no insight into his actions.

Their beloved son Heath was repeatedly and fatally stabbed by his housemate – but that was only the start of Audrey and Ian McPhillips’ ordeal.

The couple could only watch as Heath’s housemate, Thor Rasmussen, was found not guilty of murder and sent to a secure mental health facility rather than prison.

Struggling to come to terms with the court process, they suffered further pain when, just six years after the killing, Rasmussen asked for freedom.

The Supreme Court was told prosecutors, defence and doctors all agreed Rasmussen was ready to make “day trips” into the community, accompanied by just one supervisor.

On Tuesday, after years of feeling unheard, Mr and Mrs McPhillips hired a lawyer of their own to represent them in court – and urge all involved to slow down.

Heath Craig McPhillips, who was killed by his housemate Thor Rasmussen in 2015. Picture: Supplied by the McPhillips family.

“We want to remind the court that Heath was a good man – a well-respected, hardworking man and much-loved son,” they said in a letter read to the court.

“To lose our son in such a graphic, violent and unexpected way has been immensely painful … the court process has been a deeply troubling time for us.

“We worry Rasmussen has no insight in relation to his illness and we are fearful of him engaging in future violent acts.

“It was only in February this year that he reported he was still hearing voices sometimes … first and foremost, we want to ensure this never happens again.”

On November 14, 2015, Rasmussen, 37, attacked and killed Heath, 45, in the house they shared at Semaphore.

He then washed himself and changed his clothing, and was attempting to leave when police and paramedics arrived.

Rasmussen pleaded not guilty to murder and, following a trial over his mental state, was acquitted of the crime by reason of ongoing mental illness.

Heath McPhillips was killed in 2015. Picture: Supplied by the McPhillips family.

He was ordered to serve a limiting term – a period under mental health supervision equal to the penalty an unaffected person would receive – of life.

State law, however, does not require that period be served in detention and people can be released to continue treatment and rehabilitation in the community.

On Tuesday, Mr and Mrs McPhillips told the court they had found it “incredibly difficult to come to terms with” how the case had unfolded.

“Rasmussen was supposed to be under treatment in the community when Heath died … days prior, he was assessed as ‘low risk’,” they said.

“Heath died on November 14, 2015 … barely six years have passed … this is a very short time.”

Justice Anne Bampton said the couple’s “grief and anguish is acknowledged by the court”, but also said Rasmussen’s day leave was warranted.

She approved his request, ordering it be in effect immediately.