The horrifying case of Katherine Knight is one of Australia’s most shocking criminal stories. In 2001, Knight became the first woman in Australian history to be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Her crime was so gruesome it’s often compared to horror films, earning her the nickname “Australia’s Hannibal Lecter.”
Knight’s crime was not only violent but deeply disturbing—after murdering her partner, John Price, she skinned him, cooked parts of his body, and planned to serve the remains to his children. But chilling signs of violence were present in her life long before the murder.
A Troubled Past with Clear Warnings
Katherine Knight grew up in Aberdeen, New South Wales. According to reports, her childhood was abusive. She claimed she was sexually assaulted by several male relatives, which likely contributed to the violent behavior she later showed in her adult relationships.
Those who knew her described her as someone with a quick temper. Former detective Luke Taylor told news.com.au that she was “violent” and “a horror movie in the making.” Childhood classmates recalled her bullying behavior, including a time she beat up another student.
Knight’s relationships were often violent. She attacked her first husband, David Kellett, on their wedding night and once hit him with a frying pan, fracturing his skull. She also stabbed another partner with scissors and killed his dog in a fit of rage.
Despite all of these warning signs, no serious action was taken to prevent the eventual tragedy.
The Murder of John Price
Knight’s final relationship with John Price at first seemed normal to neighbors, but behind closed doors, it was anything but. Price was aware of Knight’s violent past and even took out a restraining order against her after she stabbed him during an argument.
Still, the couple briefly reunited. But things turned deadly soon after. On the night of February 29, 2000, the couple had another argument. The next day, Price failed to show up at work. Concerned coworkers and neighbors contacted the police after seeing blood at the front door.
When police entered the home, they found a scene straight out of a nightmare. Knight was unconscious after taking pills but still alive. Inside the house, they found Price’s mutilated body—skinned, decapitated, and cooked.
His head had been boiled in a pot, and slices of meat from his body were baked with vegetables and placed on plates labeled with the names of his children.
Former Sergeant Robert Wells, who responded to the scene, said the sight of Price’s skin hanging in one piece and his cooked body parts will haunt him forever.
The Sentencing and Aftermath
Knight was charged with murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2001. The judge at her sentencing said that Price’s final moments must have been terrifying, and that Knight had found pleasure in the murder. She had stabbed Price 37 times before dismembering him.
In 2006, she appealed her sentence, but the appeal was denied. Today, Knight remains in Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre, serving her sentence without the possibility of parole.