Early Life (1955–1970s)

Katherine Mary Knight was born on October 24, 1955, in Tenterfield, New South Wales.
Her upbringing was marked by:

• Extreme family dysfunction, including violence and sexual abuse within the household

• A mother who openly discussed graphic sexual experiences with her children

• Poor educational performance and violent tendencies from an early age

Knight was known to attack classmates and even teachers. By her teens, she had a reputation for unpredictable and explosive behavior.

Early Adulthood & Violent Relationships

Knight worked at a local abattoir (slaughterhouse), where she was skilled with knives and took pride in her butchering abilities. She kept her knives above her bed—a habit she maintained throughout her life.

Her adult relationships were marked by:

• Jealousy

• Physical assaults on partners

• Manipulation and threats of extreme violence

She had several children with different partners, many of whom feared her.

Relationship With John Price

Her most infamous relationship was with John Charles Thomas Price, known as “Pricey,” a well-liked father of three.
Their relationship was:

• Passionate at first

• Quickly marked by escalating violence

• Known among friends and coworkers to be dangerous

Price eventually kicked Knight out of his home after she stabbed him with a pair of scissors. Despite this, she continued returning and threatening him, and he was terrified of her.

The Murder of John Price (February 2000)

This crime is one of the most disturbing in Australian history.

The Night of the Murder

On February 29, 2000, Knight went to Price’s house while he slept.

She:

1. Stabbed him at least 37 times with a butcher’s knife

2. Chased him through the house as he tried to escape

3. Killed him when he collapsed

But the horror didn’t end there.

After the Murder

Knight skinned Price’s entire body in one piece—a feat that forensic experts described as highly skilled.
She then:

• Hung the skin from a meat hook in the lounge room

• Decapitated him

• Cooked parts of his body with potatoes, pumpkin, beets, cabbage, and gravy

• Prepared place settings at the dining table with name cards for Price’s children

A pot found on the stove contained Price’s head, prepared for cooking.

Police discovered the gruesome scene the next morning after coworkers reported Price’s absence.

Arrest and Trial

Knight initially claimed memory loss, but overwhelming forensic evidence contradicted her. She later pleaded guilty—a rare act in such a severe murder case.

Sentence

In 2001, Katherine Knight became the first woman in Australian history to be sentenced to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole.
The judge stated her crime was so horrific that she must never be released.

Life in Prison

Knight remains incarcerated at the Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre in New South Wales.

Reports describe her as:

• Manipulative

• Often in denial about the crime

• Still considered extremely dangerous

She has attempted multiple appeals, all unsuccessful.

Legacy

Katherine Knight’s case is infamous due to:

• The brutality and ritualistic nature of the murder

• The use of butchery skills

• The attempted cannibalistic intent

• Her unprecedented life-without-parole sentence

Her story has been covered extensively in documentaries, books, and crime analyses, cementing her reputation as one of the most violent female criminals in modern history.