A man arrested over a double murder in central Melbourne almost 50 years ago has been identified.
Perry Kouroumblis was just 17 when Suzanne Armstrong, 27, and Susan Bartlett, 28, were found dead in their shared home on Easey St in Collingwood on January 13, 1977.
Kouroumblis, now 65, was arrested on Thursday at Leonardo Da Vinci Airport in the Italian capital Rome over the killings that shocked Australia.
On Sunday it emerged that Kouroumblis had been arrested by police and that a knife was later found in the boot of his car, just two weeks after the murders.
At the time, Kouroumblis was living in Bendigo St, Collingwood, close to the house where Ms Armstrong and Ms Bartlett were murdered in what became known as the “Easey Street murders”.
Ron Iddles, who later became a homicide investigator but had only been on the force for three years in 1977, arrested Kouroumblis near the scene of the murders.
The now retired Mr Iddles found a knife in the boot of the car, which he later handed over to detectives, he told the Herald of the Sun.
He said Kouroumblis did not cause him any problems during the stop and search.
Perry Kouroumblis (pictured) was arrested at Leonardo Da Vinci Airport in the Italian capital Rome over the murders that shocked Australia.
Suzanne Armstrong (pictured) was murdered in the Melbourne suburb of Collingwood in 1977.
“It was okay because I knew him. I never forgot him,” Iddles said.
“I’d venture to say it was a ’68 HK Holden.”
Kouroumblis, then a teenager, said he found the gun on nearby train tracks, under a pedestrian crossing.
Decades later, Mr Iddles investigated the Easey St murders as a cold case and said Kouroumblis’ arrest was a “fantastic result for homicide and Victoria police”.
The suspect, who has dual Australian and Greek nationality, had been living in Greece for several years but could not be arrested there due to the statute of limitations on murder charges.
Police were forced to wait until Kouroumblis left Greece before they could arrest him, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said.
‘I understand that in Greece there is a 20-year statute of limitations for bringing murder charges.
‘Our arrest warrant was not issued within that 20-year period, so it was a matter of waiting, so to speak, until he was out of Greece.
‘I do not know the reason why the suspect was in Italy or was passing through Rome or heading to Rome.
“All I know is that, thanks to the court orders in place and the work with Interpol, the red notice has worked.”
The Interpol red notice, which triggered the suspect’s arrest in Italy, included two counts of murder and one count of rape.
It is unclear why Kouroumblis flew to Rome, but he remains detained there while Australia begins the legal process to bring him back.
Mr Patton described the killings as “an absolutely horrific, horrific, frenzied homicide”.
He said advances in technology, investigative techniques and tracking of statements had contributed to the breakthrough.
“This is the most serious and longest-running cold case in Victoria that we have ever solved, which is why it is such a significant achievement,” the Chief Commissioner said.
“There is simply no expiration date for crimes as brutal as this.”
Mrs. Armstrong and Mrs. Bartlett were last seen alive on January 10, 1977, and their bodies were found three days later.
Ms Bartlett’s 16-month-old son, Gregory, was found unharmed in his cot.
Their deaths shocked the nation, but so far no one has been arrested.
Susan Bartlett (left) and Suzanne Armstrong (right) were murdered at their home on Easey Street in Collingwood in 1977.
Victoria Police offered a $1 million reward in 2017 to catch those responsible.
The women’s families said it was difficult to express their level of gratitude to investigators who tirelessly sought answers and justice for so long.
“The perseverance and dedication required to achieve the result today is truly something to be admired,” they said in a statement on Saturday.
“For always giving us hope and never giving up, we simply say: thank you.”
The women had been at school together in Benalla, in uptown Victoria, and their families said their deaths had “irrevocably” changed many lives.
“We will be forever grateful for the support and understanding shown to us by our friends and family over the past 47 years,” they said.
Mr Patton said that while the arrest was an important breakthrough, it was “just the beginning of the journey” as the investigation continued.
He said the federal attorney general would begin the process of extraditing the man and the Italian courts would set the timetable, but he did not expect Australian law enforcement officers to travel to Italy for at least a month.
“We will need to provide some evidence and there will be detectives from Victoria who will be going to present that evidence to justify extradition,” Patton said.
Victoria Police Chief Shane Patton (pictured) described the killings as “an absolutely horrific, horrific and frenzied homicide”.
Kouroumblis’ brother Tony told the Herald Sun the arrest was a “big mistake”.
“I don’t think he did anything, I can’t believe it,” he said.
“I don’t think he would be capable of doing something like that. I think it’s a big mistake. We’ll see what happens.”
Charges cannot reportedly be brought against the suspect until he returns to Australia.