National

Accused Easey Street double killer to face rape charge

Mar 24, 2026

Perry Kouroumblis court sketch (file) — Perry Kouroumblis has been committed to stand trial accused of murdering two women in 1977. -AAP Image

A rape charge has been reinstated by prosecutors against the accused Easey Street double killer, after a magistrate struck out the offence.

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Perry Kouroumblis, 66, has been committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court over the alleged 1977 murders of Suzanne Armstrong, 28, and Susan Bartlett, 27.

He was initially charged with two counts of murder and one of rape, known as carnal knowledge without consent in the 1970s.

However, magistrate Brett Sonnet discharged the rape charge in November, following a committal hearing.

Prosecutor Patrick Bourke SC informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday that a fresh indictment had been filed in the higher court, with two counts of murder and one of rape.

Kouroumblis has pleaded not guilty and denies all offences.

During the brief hearing, Kouroumblis' barrister Dermot Dann KC said his client maintained "he was not responsible for the killing of the two persons".

He said the fresh indictment was "something that needed to be considered" by the defence ahead of pre-trial hearings.

Bodies of the two women were found by their neighbours inside their Easey Street home in Collingwood, inner-Melbourne, on January 13, 1977.

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