The Italian government has approved Australia’s request to extradite Perry Kouroumblis – the prime suspect in the gruesome Easey Street murders in Melbourne.
The Australian-Greek national is wanted by Victorian police in connection with the murders of Susan Bartlett and Suzanne Armstrong on Easey Street, Collingwood, in 1977.
Ms Armstrong and Ms Bartlett were stabbed to death in their share house. Ms Armstrong’s 16-month-old son was found alone in his cot in the aftermath.
At the time of the murders, Kouroumblis, then 17, was found with a knife in his car, which he claimed to have found on railway tracks near the crime scene.
In 2017, Kouroumblis left Australia for Greece after being asked for a DNA sample by cold case investigators. He couldn’t be extradited due to Greece’s statute of limitations.
That law doesn’t exist in Italy, which is how the 65-year-old was arrested in Rome when he arrived two months ago. He remains in Regina Coeli prison, known as one of the city’s toughest.
No charges have been laid in relation to the case and Kouroumblis maintains his innocence.
His lawyer, Serena Tucci, said on Monday that Italy’s Justice Minister, Carlo Nordio, had agreed to Australia’s extradition request, and she had informed Kouroumblis of the decision.
“He’s lucid. He’s very attentive to what’s being told to him, and he’s prepared to face his trial in Australia,” Ms Tucci told the ABC.
Before extradition can take place, judge Aldo Morgigni from the Rome Court of Appeal, must grant final approval under an executive order. Ms Tucci said she expected the judge to make a decision on the case this week.
Once the extradition had been approved, Australian authorities have 15 days to transfer him from Rome to Melbourne.
Source: ABC News.
