Suspect Extradited in Infamous 1977 Melbourne Murders

Perry Kouroumblis, 65, has been extradited from Italy as a suspect in the Easey Street murders of 1977. The case, which has haunted many for decades, sees renewed hope for justice following recent DNA advancements.

Perry Kouroumblis, a 65-year-old man implicated in one of Australia's most notorious cold cases, is en route to Melbourne after being extradited from Italy. He is linked to the 1977 murders of Susan Bartlett, 28, and Suzanne Armstrong, 27, a brutal crime that has captivated the Australian public for nearly five decades. The two women's bodies were discovered in a home in Collingwood, Melbourne, with substantial evidence of foul play, including multiple stab wounds and sexual assault against Ms. Armstrong.

Perry Kouroumblis only emerged as a suspect in recent years due to breakthroughs in DNA testing, although he has not yet been formally charged and continues to assert his innocence. His first connection to the case dates back to the week following the murders when he reported finding a bloody knife near the crime scene.

The Victorian police have long regarded the murders as "particularly gruesome and horrific," a sentiment echoed by Commissioner Shane Patton at the announcement of Kouroumblis's arrest in Rome. After leaving Australia nearly seven years ago, Kouroumblis was subject to an Interpol red notice for charges including murder and rape. His arrest was delayed in Greece due to the country's statutes of limitations on murder, which mandates that charges be filed within 20 years of the alleged offense.

The families of the victims have expressed their ongoing grief, stating that their lives were irrevocably altered by the tragic events. The police's relentless pursuit of justice has been met with gratitude by the families, who have received ongoing support throughout the ordeal. As Kouroumblis prepares to face the Australian judiciary, hope remains for closure in this haunting unsolved case.