Easey Street murder accused Perry Kouroumblis, depicted in a court sketch at Melbourne Magistrates Court on October 29, 2025.
Detectives questioned an alternate suspect over the Easey Street double murder almost 50 years ago and “had no doubt” he had killed the two women, a defence lawyer claims.
The bodies of Suzanne Armstrong, 28, and Susan Bartlett, 27, were found by a neighbour inside their home in Melbourne’s Collingwood on January 13, 1977.
Easey Street murder accused Perry Kouroumblis, depicted in a court sketch at Melbourne Magistrates Court on October 29, 2025.
Easey Street murder accused Perry Kouroumblis, depicted in a court sketch at Melbourne Magistrates Court on October 29, 2025.(Supplied)

DNA evidence from a towel, which included blood, a lamp shade, and semen found at the crime scene, was “100 billion times more likely to observe those results if the accused was a contributor,” according to Menon’s allegations.

The defense team for Kouroumblis plans to challenge the admissibility of forensic evidence that has been preserved for nearly fifty years, as well as the methods used to collect their client’s DNA.

Kouroumblis’ lawyer, Dermot Dann KC, stated that his client would plead not guilty to the murder charges if the case proceeds to trial. Additionally, they intend to request the dismissal of the rape charge at the conclusion of the committal hearing.

“The key issue is identifying the individual or individuals responsible for the tragic and brutal deaths of Ms. Armstrong and Ms. Bartlett,” Dann remarked.

“There is evidence pointing to an alternative suspect who was interviewed by police in 1977 when the events were still vivid in the minds of homicide detectives.”

“They were convinced that this alternative suspect was responsible for the deaths of Ms. Armstrong and Ms. Bartlett,” he added.