Australian authorities have begun the extradition process for Perry Kouroumblis, the man accused of the Easey Street murders nearly half a century ago.
Kouroumblis was detained at Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome late on Thursday, September 19, with the Greek Australian having been the subject of an international arrest warrant.
Italian authorities told The Australian that the “clock has started ticking” for extradition, with a 40 day deadline from the moment Kouroumblis was detained.
Just how quickly Kouroumblis returns to Australia to face trial depends on whether he lodges a last minute objection to the extradition.
If Kouroumblis decides not to contest the extradition, he could be back in Australia before this Christmas. But if he does fight the extradition, the case could drag out throughout 2025 and into 2026.
The 65-year-old’s arrest came nearly 50 years after Suzanne Armstrong, 27, and Susan Bartlett, 28, were allegedly murdered in their Easey Street home in Melbourne’s inner city suburb of Collingwood. He also faces a rape charge.
Armstrong’s infant son was found unharmed in his cot when police discovered the bodies on January 13, 1977.
Kouroumblis is currently being held in Regina Coeli prison and the Italian Ministry of Justice Directorate General for International affairs and Judicial Cooperation has oversight of the case.
Source: The Australian
