Greek-Australian man accused of killing two women in 1977 extradited from Italy

Perry Kouroumblis is suspected of the stabbing deaths of Susan Armstrong and Susan Bartlett, who were stabbed to death at their home in Collingwood.

Kouroumblis was arrested at Rome airport after an Interpol red notice was issued in September after he arrived on a flight from Greece. He had been held at Regina Coeli prison in the Italian capital since September 19, while the courts considered the request by Victoria State Police for his extradition, which was eventually granted.

The 65-year-old boarded a Qatar Airways flight from Rome on Monday afternoon local time and is expected to arrive in Melbourne late Tuesday night.

Victoria Police Commissioner Shane Patton described the Easey St murder as “the most serious cold-blooded murder case in the state of Victoria”. “It was an absolutely horrific, horrific, outrageous homicide,” the chief police commissioner said.

According to information published in the Australian media, Perry Kouroumplis worked as a welder in Athens and had been living in Greece since 2016. He could not be extradited from Greece due to the statute of limitations, as charges must be laid within 20 years of the alleged crime. However, this does not apply in Italy and he was arrested upon arrival.

Mr Kouroumplis’ arrest followed a lengthy investigation by Victoria Police into the murders of the two women. Susan Armstrong, 27, and Susan Bartlett, 28, were found dead in their home on Easey Street on January 13, 1977. The two were high school friends, and police say Susan Armstrong was first sexually assaulted and then stabbed, while her 16-month-old baby was found unharmed in a crib inside the home. Susan Bartlett was also stabbed to death.

After Mr. Kouroumbli’s arrest was announced, the victims’ families issued a statement saying their lives had been “irreversibly” changed by the murders. “For two quiet Victorian families, it was impossible to comprehend the unnecessary and violent manner in which they died,” the statement said.

Last month, Mr. Kouroumbli’s Italian lawyer Coroner Serena Tucci told the ABC her client was “mentally clear” and had been “taken by surprise” when he was arrested. “He had no idea they could stop him and was surprised that they were doing it for something that went back to 1977 in Australia. He didn’t put up any resistance. He did exactly what the police told him to do,” she said.

“He’s just taking it day by day now, trying to figure out how best to deal with his upcoming trial,” Ms Tucci concluded.