Easey Street accused murderer Perry Kouroumblis to face court over 1977 killings

The man accused of stabbing two Melbourne women to death nearly 50 years ago has faced court for the first time, sitting calmly in the court dock.

Perry Kouroumblis, 65, is accused of murdering Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett in their Collingwood share house on Easey Street in January 1977.

He is also charged with raping Armstrong.

Kouroumblis faced a brief filing hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Wednesday afternoon.

Kouroumblis, who had grey hair and a beard, sat calmly in the court dock dressed in a blue button-up shirt.

The homicide detectives who arrested him and accompanied him on a long-haul flight were in the front row of the public gallery. Members of the Armstrong and Bartlett families were also in court.

During the hearing, a police prosecutor said a hand-up brief of evidence would be prepared by mid-January before the case returns to court on 26 February 2025.

Kouroumblis, who was represented by prominent criminal defence lawyer Bill Doogue, was taken into custody at the end of the hearing.

Documents released by the court revealed Kouroumblis was considered the prime suspect in the case as far back as 2020.

"The accused resides overseas, is avoiding apprehension and his extradition will be sought," a charge sheet and warrant dated 20 May 2020 read.

The alleged killings and rape are alleged to have taken place sometime between 10 January and 13 January 1977.

Kouroumblis was aged 17 at the time of the women's deaths.

His extradition from Europe was completed late on Tuesday, after he was flown from Italy, via Qatar, to Melbourne.

He had been living in Greece since about 2016 and was arrested earlier this year when he made a trip to Italy.

Victoria Police have previously described the killings of Armstrong and Bartlett as the state's longest-running cold case.

Family of victims look towards 'closure'

Martin Bartlett, Suzanne Bartlett's brother, said the hearing at Melbourne Magistrates' Court had provided a sense of relief to the families of the victims.

He said both families were still grappling with the injustice of the murders, decades on.

Wendi Selkrig, Armstrong's niece, said her family had never given up hope the case would be solved.

"Suzanne was a mum to a really little baby at the time. She was a brilliant person. Susan was a school teacher. They both came from really good families," Selkrig told the ABC.

-ABC