Katherine Knight: The First Woman in Australia Sentenced to Life Without Parole

Katherine Mary Knight, born October 24, 1955, is an Australian murderer who holds the distinction of being the first woman in Australia to receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Her horrific crime, committed in February 2000, shocked the nation and remains one of the most brutal cases in Australian criminal history. She is currently incarcerated at the Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre in New South Wales.

The Murder of John Price

Knight was convicted of the murder of her partner, John Charles Thomas Price, a 44-year-old man. The details of the crime are exceptionally disturbing. Knight stabbed Price more than 37 times, then proceeded to decapitate him and skin his body.

After dismembering Price, Knight hung portions of his skin on a meat hook that she had recently installed. She then boiled his head and cooked parts of his body with vegetables, seemingly with the intention of serving the remains to Price’s children. Fortunately, her plans were thwarted when an employee of Price’s alerted police after he failed to appear at work.

Early Life and Family Background

Knight’s upbringing was marked by instability, and dysfunction. Her mother, Barbara Roughan, engaged in an adulterous relationship with Kenneth Charles Knight while still married to John Roughan. This unconventional family dynamic contributed to a turbulent childhood for Knight.

History of Violence

Prior to the murder of John Price, Knight had a documented history of violent behavior. She had previously stabbed another partner during an argument, and Price had even obtained a restraining order against her. Despite this, the couple reconciled and resumed their relationship.

Knight also exhibited violent tendencies towards animals, killing a partner’s dog and attacking another with scissors. Neighbors described her as a “very proficient meatworker,” a skill she likely honed during her employment at an abattoir, which contributed to the gruesome nature of the crime.

The Discovery and Aftermath

Police were alerted to the crime after neighbors noticed blood near the front entrance of Knight’s home. Upon entering the residence, they discovered Price’s body and apprehended Knight, who had consumed pills but not a fatal dose. A former police officer noted that Price’s head was still warm upon discovery, indicating the cooking had occurred shortly before.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

In 2001, Katherine Knight was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The judge described the killing as an act of “extreme brutality” and stated that Price’s final moments must have been “filled with terror.”

The Blood Note and False Allegations

A disturbing note written in blood on a photograph of Price was discovered at the scene. The note contained allegations of sexual abuse, claiming Price had raped Knight’s daughter. However, these allegations were later proven to be entirely unfounded.

Further Insights

Peter Lalor’s book, Blood Stains, portrays Knight as a bully who even attempted to strangle her first husband on their wedding night and fractured his skull with a frying pan.