Australian suspect in 1977 murders extradited from Italy
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Victoria's 'most serious' cold case stabbed two women, aged 27 and 28, to death in 1977
A man wanted in connection with one of Australia’s most infamous cold cases, known as the Easey Street murders, has been extradited from Italy to Melbourne. Perry Kouroumblis, 65, arrived in Melbourne after being detained in Italy earlier this year, following significant breakthroughs in DNA testing.
The case dates back to 1977, when two women, Suzanne Armstrong, 27, and Susan Bartlett, 28, were found brutally stabbed to death in their Melbourne home. The case has haunted the nation ever since, with police and the public desperate for answers.
For years, the investigation into the murders stalled. However, in recent years, new DNA testing led authorities to focus on Kouroumblis as a potential suspect. Although he has not been formally charged, Kouroumblis maintains his innocence. According to local media reports, if he is charged, he is expected to appear in court later this week.
Kouroumblis first came to police attention just after the murders, when he was 17 years old. He claimed to have found a bloodied knife near the scene of the crime in Easey Street, Collingwood, an inner-city suburb of Melbourne. At the time, his involvement in the case was not immediately clear.
The bodies of Armstrong and Bartlett were discovered three days after they were last seen. Armstrong’s young son, just a year old, was also found in the home, unharmed, in his cot. Both women had been stabbed more than a dozen times, and Armstrong had been sexually assaulted, according to police reports.
The murder investigation has been one of the most high-profile and tragic cases in Victoria’s history, drawing significant media attention. Over the years, it has inspired numerous police appeals, books, and even a popular true crime podcast. In 2017, Victoria Police issued a $1 million reward for any information related to the case in the hope of solving the crime.
When news of Kouroumblis’ arrest broke, Victoria Police Commissioner Shane Patton described the murders as “an absolutely gruesome, horrific, frenzied homicide.” He highlighted the emotional impact the case had on the community, emphasizing the shocking nature of the crime – two women murdered in the safety of their own home.
Kouroumblis, a dual Greek-Australian citizen, had been living in Greece when police issued an Interpol red notice for his arrest in connection with the murders. He faced charges of two counts of murder and one of rape. However, he was not apprehended in Greece due to the country’s law that limits the prosecution of murder charges to a 20-year statute of limitations for crimes committed before 2004.
After fleeing to Italy, Kouroumblis was arrested in Rome in September. The extradition process soon began, and he was transported back to Australia to face charges related to the double murder.
The families of Armstrong and Bartlett expressed their long-held grief in a statement following Kouroumblis’ arrest. They spoke of how the brutal murders had irrevocably changed their lives and the difficulty they had in understanding the senseless violence that took their loved ones.
“For two quiet families from country Victoria, it has always been impossible to comprehend the needless and violent manner in which Suzanne and Susan died,” the statement read. The families also thanked the police for their unwavering dedication, adding, “For always giving us hope and never giving up, we simply say, thank you.”
The case continues to be a source of deep emotional strain for both the victims’ families and the community. With the extradition of Kouroumblis, there is hope that justice will finally be served for Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett, whose tragic deaths have left a lasting impact on their loved ones and on Australia as a whole.
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