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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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Crime & Justice • Murderers

Katherine Knight

Katherine Mary Knight is an Australian murderer convicted of killing her partner, John Price, in 2000.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Katherine Mary Knight is an Australian murderer convicted of killing her partner, John Price, in 2000. She became the first woman in Australia to be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. She is serving her sentence in New South Wales.

Early life

Katherine Mary Knight was born on 24 October 1955 in Australia. Available sources identify her as a former abattoir or meatworker.

Murder of John Price

In February 2000, Knight killed her partner John Price at his home in Aberdeen, New South Wales. Sources describe the case as one of the most notorious in Australian criminal history because of the violence involved.

Trial and sentence

Knight pleaded guilty to murder and received a life sentence without the possibility of parole in 2001. Media and court reporting note that she became the first woman in Australia to receive that sentence.

Imprisonment and legacy

Knight remains incarcerated in New South Wales. The case continues to be widely discussed in Australian media, crime coverage, and legal commentary.

Key facts

  • Knight was convicted for the February 2000 murder of her partner, John Charles Thomas Price.
  • She is the first woman in Australia sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
  • She pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced in 2001.
  • The killing involved extreme violence and post-mortem mutilation.
  • She remains imprisoned in New South Wales.
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Canadian context

No direct Canada-specific connection is established in the available sources; the case is mainly relevant to Canadian readers as an internationally known criminal case.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Katherine Knight?
Katherine Mary Knight is an Australian murderer best known for killing her partner, John Price, in 2000.
What crime was she convicted of?
She was convicted of murdering John Price.
What sentence did she receive?
She received life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Why is her case notable?
She is reported to be the first woman in Australia sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Where is she imprisoned?
Sources identify Silverwater Women's Correctional Centre in New South Wales.

References

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Knight
    Supports: Birth date, conviction, sentence, and imprisonment location.
  2. ABC Newshttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-29/katherine-mary-knights-john-price-murder-remembered-20-years-on/12006996
    Supports: Murder of John Price, date, and first Australian woman sentenced to life without parole.
  3. ABC Newshttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-09-11/court-rejects-appeal-in-body-cooking-case/1260592
    Supports: Guilty plea, life sentence without parole, and details of the appeal.
  4. Crime+Investigationhttps://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/articles/katherine-knight-killer-cannibal
    Supports: First woman in Australia sentenced to life without parole and general case overview.