by Peter Lalor
November 2001
Katherine Mary Knight climbs from the cells in the bowels of the Newcastle court and emerges in the dock before Justice O’Keefe on Thursday 8 November 2001 to learn her fate.
On Monday her barrister, Peter Thraves, struggles to find any grounds to argue for compassion from the judge, but knows his client is facing a long time in jail.
It will be the defence submission to give a very long sentence but one which is finite, allowing the possibility that in the future this offender could be assessed as being able to be released. When the court comes to its final decision, I ask that the plea of guilty preventing a long trial, her lack of prior criminal record and her personality disorder at the time be taken into account and a life sentence not be imposed.
O’Keefe tells Thraves he has seen no remorse from Knight and any claims of amnesia are doubtful.
On Tuesday Mark Macadam’s submission for the prosecution is searing. He says any discount because of the plea to murder is negated by the fact it has been entered so late in the process, thus saving little money or time. He argues that she will continue to be of danger to the community and that this is a murder clearly in the worst case category.
The murder of John Price, accompanied by an extreme level of cold-blooded callousness, is fairly to be described as an atrocious and gravely wicked act. The evil displayed by the prisoner is such that it defies adequate description—the more so as the motive was vengeance and payback because Mr Knight intended to separate from her, something she would not accept.
Macadam points out there is absolutely no evidence of any contrition and an enormous amount which indicates premeditation.
The unspeakable violence perpetrated on a defenceless man and the degradation visited on his body make this beyond any doubt the worst conceivable killing in every respect. Only one sentence is appropriate. That Katherine Knight spend the rest of her life in jail.
On the day of sentencing, Knight sits straight-backed and still, her face reflected in the perspex around the dock. She wears glasses and a floral print dress. Behind her to the left sit her brother Shane and father Ken, but she did not see them when she entered. The Price relatives sit on the other side of the court. Bob Price is making a nuisance of himself again and is eventually arrested outside the court with a piece of broken glass in his hand.
Justice O’Keefe begins to read his sentence from the 40-page document he has prepared. He meanders through the legal details and then outlines the murder, describing the stab wounds in graphic terms.
Many of the wounds were deep, and extended into vital organs. These included the aorta, both lungs, the liver, the stomach, the descending colon, the pancreas, and the left kidney, the lower pole of which had virtually been sliced off.
The Price family squirm. Reporters in the court take notes furiously.
Mr Price’s head was in place at the time he was skinned. However, at some time between the time the body was moved into the lounge room and skinned and about a time before 7.30 am on 1 March 2000 the prisoner decapitated Mr Price’s body and at some stage arranged it with the left arm draped over an empty soft drink bottle, and the legs crossed. This was said in evidence to be an act of defilement demonstrating contempt for Mr Price’s remains.
O’Keefe comments on the ‘steady hand and grisly methodology’ Knight demonstrated during the skinning and beheading. He reads a biography of the prisoner’s life, taking extracts from the statements of David Kellett, David Saunders and John Chillingworth. He accepts that the murder was premeditated and rejects claims of amnesia.
Every word seems to spell doom for Katherine Knight. After nearly an hour the judge reaches his summary:
The prisoner has pleaded guilty to a murder which falls into the most serious category of murders. I am satisfied beyond any doubt that such murder was premeditated. I am further satisfied in the same way that not only did she plan the murder but she also enjoyed the horrific acts which followed in its wake as part of a ritual of death and defilement. The things which she did after the death of Mr Price indicate cognition, volition, calm and skill. I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that her evil actions were the playing out of her resentments arising out of her rejection by Mr Price, her impending expulsion from Mr Price’s home and his refusal to share with her his assets, particularly his home, which he wanted to retain for his children. I have no doubt that her claim to amnesia forms part of her plan to affect madness in order to escape the consequences of her acts and to provide a convenient basis on which to rely to avoid detailed questioning by the police and escape punishment.
As I have said, the prisoner showed no mercy whatsoever to Mr Price. The last minutes of his life must have been a time of abject terror for him, as they were a time of utter enjoyment for her. At no time during the hearing or prior thereto did the prisoner express any regret for what she had done or any remorse for having done it: not even through the surrogacy of her counsel. Her attitude in that regard is consistent with her general approach to the many acts of violence which she had engaged in against her various partners, namely ‘they deserved it’. In addition, the prisoner’s history of violence together with her flawed personality cause me to conclude, along with Dr Milton and the other psychiatrists called in the case, that she is without doubt a very dangerous person and likely, if released into the community, to commit further acts of serious violence, including even murder against those who cross her, particularly males. A crime of the kind committed by the prisoner calls for the maximum penalty the law empowers the court to impose.
An examination of the cases referred to by counsel supports the view that I have formed, namely that the only appropriate penalty for the prisoner is life imprisonment and that parole should never be considered for her. The prisoner should never be released.
Katherine Mary Knight, you have pleaded guilty to and been convicted of the murder of John Charles Thomas Price at Aberdeen in the State of New South Wales on or about 29 February 2000. In respect of that crime I sentence you to imprisonment for life.
John Price’s family breaks into applause. Katherine shows no response, but as she rises and turns she sees that Ken, her father, has been sitting behind her. Their eyes lock for a moment. He seems to try and mouth something to her. Perhaps he cries. Her eyes take in the others, the Price family getting to its feet. She is led away, then pauses.
Katherine Knight smiled and took the first step down into the cells.
Epilogue
November 2002
Katherine Knight has appealed against the length of her sentence. Her former partners and the people of Aberdeen anxiously await the outcome and live in fear of her getting out.
In June 2002 she sent David Kellett a card with an FJ Holden on it. Inside it read, ‘I forgive you from Katherine.’
Her two youngest children are with their fathers and have visited their mum in prison. Other family members also visit but sometimes she turns them away because it interrupts her sewing classes or other activities.
Recently Katherine was making signed sculptures of clawlike hands until the prison authorities told her she could no longer do it. She has told her family she still loves prison but does not want to die there.
Bob Wells still has trouble sleeping, is still seeing a psychiatrist and will probably never return to full duties as a police officer. Many of his fellow officers who attended the crime scene are in similar position.
Katherine’s Aberdeen home has been turned into the Oasis Cafe while John Price’s home is still on the market. In mid-2002 tenants moved in.
The main street of Aberdeen looking north, 2002. Katherine Knight’s house is marked.
Aberdeen road sign, 2002. The town claims it is the birthplace of the Blue Heeler, but Muswellbrook erected a statue of the dog, asserting ownership of the breed.
A view of the derelict Aberdeen abattoir looking west toward the town, 2001.
Katherine Knight and David Kellett on their wedding day, 1974.
&n
bsp; Katherine Knight in more recent years.
John Price and Katherine Knight. She is wearing a cap supplied by the mining company from which she had him sacked.
John Price.
John Price’s house, 84 St Andrews St, Aberdeen, 2002.
Katherine Knight’s house on the main street in Aberdeen, 2001. The windows were boarded up after the crime to stop vandalism.
Katherine Knight is given oxygen at Muswellbrook Hospital after being apprehended at the murder scene.
Floor plan of John Price’s house showing where the stages of his murder took place.
Bob Wells outside Aberdeen police station during the trial, 2001.
ENDNOTES
Chapter 1
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from Katherine Knight’s interviews with Dr Robert Delaforce, Dr Rod Milton and Dr Leonard Lambeth and quoted from their psychiatric reports; John Price, Geoff Bowditch and Peter Cairnes quotes taken from police statements and author interview with Peter Cairnes. Additional information from Anthony Keegan and Jill Simmons’ police statements and author interview with Jill Keegan and Frank Heap.
‘I was always … drunk and violent.’ Katherine Knight interview with Robert Delaforce August 2000.
‘I always wanted … loved doing all that.’ Katherine Knight interview with Robert Delaforce August 2000.
Chapter 2
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from Lisa Logan, Peter Cairnes, Jill Keegan, Jon Collison, Ron Murray interviews by author with additional information from police statements;
‘It was weird … and that was it.’ Johnathon Price interview with Michelle Coffey of Who Weekly.
Chapter 3
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from Bob Wells, Lloyd Lyne and Victor Ford interviews by author. Historical information from Muswellbrook Visitors Centre and Les Parsons.
Chapter 4
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from Bob Wells and general information from interview with author, court records and autopsy report.
Chapter 5
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from David Saunders, David Kellett and John Chillingworth interviews with author.
Chapter 6
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from David Kellett, Mavis Paulger, Colleen Ryan, Barry Roughan, Melissa Knight and anonymous sibling interviews with author and police statements; childhood friend (anonymous) interview with author; Brian Conlon police statement; Katherine Knight interviews with psychiatrists Dr Robert Delaforce, Dr Rod Milton and Dr Leonard Lambeth. Bus-train crash information from Macleay River Historical Society, researcher Pam Parmenter.
‘The personality problems … court to decide.’ Dr Rod Milton 14/10/01.
‘What she did … must have been required.’ Dr Robert Delaforce 26/10/01.
‘Barb was hurt… it was always there.’ Anonymous sibling interview.
‘When she was good … in your family.’ Anonymous sibling interview.
‘I used to get… remember the beltings’. Katherine Knight interview with Dr Leonard Lambeth.
‘Her mother and father … no love.’ Anonymous childhood friend.
‘If there was a fight… ever backed down.’ Anonymous childhood friend.
‘ Suddenly they were at it… and vice versa. ‘ Anonymous childhood friend.
‘One doll used to … world I suppose.’ Katherine Knight interview with Robert Delaforce August 2000.
‘I know it… afraid of being raped.’ Katherine Knight interview with Dr Robert Delaforce.
‘They rape them … They’re helpless.’ Katherine Knight interview with Dr Rod Milton.
‘Her personality problems … intellectually lacking.’ Katherine Knight interview with Dr Robert Delaforce.
Chapter 7
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from Lloyd and Betty Lyne, David Kellett, Mavis Paulger, Lorna Driscoll, Les Parsons, Margaret MacBeth, Henry Perry interviews with author. Additional information from Melissa Kellett’s police statements, court records and Tom Barrass’s interview with Ted Abrahams, Newcastle Herald, 14 Oct. 1985.
‘This lady is of… of all concerned.’ Katherine Knight, Record of admission, Morisset Psychiatric Hospital.
‘This young lady… Mrs F Paulger.’ Discharge summary compiled by M. Elmoff, Medical Officer, Morisset Psychiatric Hospital.
‘I pick the wrong … drunk and violent.’ Katherine Knight interview with Robert Delaforce August 2000.
Chapter 8
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from David Kellett interview with author.
Chapter 9
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from Bob Wells interview with author; Natasha Kellett, Joy Hinder and Barry Roughan police statements.
Chapter 10
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from Bob Wells interview with author and Katherine Knight interview with police.
Chapter 11
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from David Saunders, Melissa Kellett, Glenda Reichel, Ron Wilton, Dale Fittock, Gerrie Edwards author interviews and police statements; Katherine Knight interviews with Dr Robert Delaforce, Dr Rod Milton and Dr Leonard Lambeth, and police; Rosemary Biddle interview with Michelle Coffey of Who Weekly, Natasha Kellett and Brian Conlon police statements. Additional information from court records.
‘She had all this … for dying too.’ Katherine Knight interview with Dr Robert Delaforce.
Chapter 12
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from Dr Tim Lyons interview with author and autopsy report; Bob Wells interview with author; Charlie Knight, Tracy Knight and Jason Wilson police statements.
‘The house is … measuring 170 mm.’ Dr Tim Lyons, autopsy report.
‘This is a … body was reconstructed.’ Dr Tim Lyons, autopsy report.
‘There are a number … 15-17cms in length.’ Dr Tim Lyons, autopsy report.
‘Multiple internal… and decapitation.’ Dr Tim Lyons, autopsy report.
‘There are … defence wounds.’ Dr Tim Lyons, autopsy report.
‘Here was a story… of a Stephen King.’ Phillip Adams, ‘Hypocrites shop horror’, The Weekend Australian, Sat. 27 May, 2000.
Chapter 13
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from David Saunders author interview and police statement; John Chillingworth author interview and police statement; Melissa Knight author interview and police statement; Natasha Knight police statement.
Chapter 14
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from Colleen Price, Paul Farrell, Price’s youngest daughter, Gerrie Edwards, Dave Saunders and Henry Perry interviews with author; Rosemary Biddle interview with Michelle Coffey of Who Weekly and police statement; Johnathon Price police statement and interview with Michelle Coffey of Who Weekly; Katherine Knight police interview and psychiatric interviews (see Chapter One endnotes); Amanda Pemberton police statement.
‘all this old … on the roof.’ Rosemary Biddle interview with Michelle Coffey of Who Weekly.
‘She had this … everyone else would do.’ Rosemary Biddle interview with Michelle Coffey of Who Weekly.
‘she went absolutely … nothing happened.’ Rosemary Biddle interview with Michelle Coffey of Who Weekly.
Chapter 15
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from John Price’s youngest daughter and Ron Murray author interviews; Katherine Knight police statement and psychiatric interviews with Dr Robert Delaforce, Dr Rod Milton and Dr Leonard Lambeth; Katherine Knight sentencing report; Rosemary Biddle interview with Michelle Coffey of Who Weekly and police statement; police statements from Katherine Knight’s children, Michael Steele, Amanda Doyle and Simon Gallen and interview by Donna Page of the Newcastle Herald.
‘to keep … as the future.’ Katherine Knight interview with Dr Leonard Lambeth.
‘I
loved all of that… and the horns.’ Katherine Knight interview with Robert Delaforce.
‘there’s nothing in there.’ Michelle Coffey of Who Weekly.
Chapter 16
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from Val Roughan, Joy Hinder, John Hinder, Natasha Kellett, Amanda Pemberton and Anthony Keegan police statements; Barry Roughan and Glenda Reichel author interviews and police statements; Katherine Knight police and psychiatric interviews with Dr Robert Delaforce, Dr Rod Milton and Dr Leonard Lambeth. Additional information from author interview with residents (anonymous) and court records.
‘He turned over … and that’s it.’ Katherine Knight interview with Dr Leonard Lambeth.
‘I run the knife...just cut that off. ‘ Fred West quoted in Happy Like Murderers by Gordon Bum, Faber and Faber.
Chapter 17
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from author interview with prison sources (anonymous); Geraldine Edwards, Bob Wells and Barry Roughan author interviews; Dr Robert Delaforce’s psychiatric report on Katherine Knight with references to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edn, American Psychiatric Publishing Inc.; Dr Michael Giuffrida psychiatric report on Katherine Knight; Sharon Young police statement regarding medical records.
‘a woman accused … due to security fears.’ The Daily Telegraph, ‘Accused kept in cell’, 5 April 2000.
‘ that the doctors … in bandages. ‘ Katherine Knight interview with Dr Rod Milton.
‘I’m happy for … helping people.’ Katherine Knight interview with Dr Rod Milton.
‘the development of… increased arousal.’ Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edn, American Psychiatric Publishing Inc. CD ROM.
Chapter 18
Direct quotes are attributed in the text and taken from court records — transcript of the sentencing proceedings Regina v. Katherine Mary Knight 16/10/01-8/11/01 NSW Supreme Court; Bob Wells interview with author.