Australia Australia - Suzanne Armstrong, 28, Susan Bartlett, 27, Collingwood, Vic, 10 Jan 1977

[TootsieFootsie]

MSN

9News

Easey Street murder accused to hear 19 witnesses' evidence​

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Easey Street murder accused Perry Kouroumblis, to hear witnesses' evidence

Nineteen witnesses will be called to give evidence over the alleged stabbing murder of two young women in their home almost five decades ago.

neoskosmos.com

Easey Street murder accused Perry Kouroumblis, to hear witnesses’ evidence​

Kouroumblis faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday via a video link.

Kouroumblis is yet to enter a plea to the charges.

He will return to the court on October 27 for a committal hearing over six days, when he will hear the evidence of 19 witnesses which will be tested.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/perry-kouroumblis-alleged-easey-st-killer-enlists-top-silk-ahead-of-key-court-hearing/news-story/53f6a6f7708bde5f96f5dbd0a1b74981

Perry Kouroumblis: Alleged Easey St killer enlists top silk ahead of key court hearing​

 

[SouthAussie]

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/perry-kouroumblis-alleged-easey-st-killer-enlists-top-silk-ahead-of-key-court-hearing/news-story/53f6a6f7708bde5f96f5dbd0a1b74981

Perry Kouroumblis: Alleged Easey St killer enlists top silk ahead of key court hearing​

Dermot Dann. He did a good job for Greg Lynn. Managed to stop Lynn being convicted of two murders, and instead Lynn was only convicted of one murder.

Sounds as if the police are going for suppression of details during the committal stage (which is about to start on the 29th).

imo

 

[Bats]

Dermot Dann. He did a good job for Greg Lynn. Managed to stop Lynn being convicted of two murders, and instead Lynn was only convicted of one murder.

Sounds as if the police are going for suppression of details during the committal stage (which is about to start on the 29th).

imo

Its going to be a busy week in the courts for Dann. I think the GL appeal is set to be heard next week as well.

 

[SouthAussie]

Its going to be a busy week in the courts for Dann. I think the GL appeal is set to be heard next week as well.

Probably one of the reasons that Dann wanted an extension before the committal started - he didn't get it, but it sounds as if they are spreading this committal hearing over months to somewhat accommodate him.

And hopefully Lynn's Leave for Appeal will be denied (on 31st).

 

[dotr]

Oct 21, 2025

Fresh twist in 47yo cold case

Police will seek to keep information secret ahead of a key court hearing for the man allegedly behind the shocking killing of two young housemates almost five decades ago.

au.news.yahoo.com

''Both the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police have launched court bids to keep information secret ahead of a key hearing for the alleged Easey St killer.''

''Mr Kouroumblis appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon ahead of a committal hearing scheduled to be held next week.

During a committal, a magistrate will hear the police case against an accused person before deciding if they should face trial.''

 

[minusfour]

I wonder what the secrecy is about? I understand that there is compelling DNA evidence in this case. I'm looking forward to the trial, this was one of those (double) murders that I thought would never be solved. I'm really pleased that it may well be.

 

[3llecia]

The public interest immunity claims are…interesting because there’s two potentially conflicting considerations:

• first, that harm should not be done to the government or public service by disclosure of certain documents
• secondly, a Court of justice, in performing its functions, should not be denied access to relevant evidence.

VicPol and the AFP are both intending on making claims over specific documents from the investigation.

I wonder if they want to protect investigative methods, or whether it’s a reputational issue? Policing standards have evolved in 50 years. The AFP itself was only established in 1979.

Maybe some of the evidence is considered unnecessary for proving guilt, but incidental disclosure during the trial would risk damaging public opinion about the agencies? Something dodgy in a modern context? Or maybe protecting former/current personnel/sting ops?

I don’t think the claims would be allowed to obscure evidence that puts the defendant at a disadvantage.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

INTRODUCING: The Case of the Easey Street Murders​

2.26 minute audio

https://i.abc.net.au/listen/programs/the-case-of/introducing-the-case-of-the-easey-street-murders/105922022

In 1977, two women were brutally murdered in their small Collingwood terrace house. Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett were stabbed dozens of times, with Suzanne's baby in the next room.

The crime went unsolved for decades, leaving the community scarred and confused. But now, almost 50 years later, it's going to court.

The Case of the Easey Street Murders will follow the committal hearing of accused murderer Perry Kouroumblis — the first step towards a possible murder trial

In this season of The Case Of, Stephen Stockwell will be joined by ABC reporters Alexandra Alvaro and Rachael Brown.

Follow The Case Of in the ABC Listen app or wherever you get your podcasts so you can get this full story when it drops on Tuesday.

The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.

 

[Cliff Hardy]

INTRODUCING: The Case of the Easey Street Murders​

2.26 minute audio

https://i.abc.net.au/listen/programs/the-case-of/introducing-the-case-of-the-easey-street-murders/105922022

In 1977, two women were brutally murdered in their small Collingwood terrace house. Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett were stabbed dozens of times, with Suzanne's baby in the next room.

The crime went unsolved for decades, leaving the community scarred and confused. But now, almost 50 years later, it's going to court.

The Case of the Easey Street Murders will follow the committal hearing of accused murderer Perry Kouroumblis — the first step towards a possible murder trial

In this season of The Case Of, Stephen Stockwell will be joined by ABC reporters Alexandra Alvaro and Rachael Brown.

Follow The Case Of in the ABC Listen app or wherever you get your podcasts so you can get this full story when it drops on Tuesday.

The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.

The 2nd episode of that ABC series, titled 'Easey Street Murders: What we know so far' is up too.

 

[Bats]

DNA from 1977 murder scene likely came from prime suspect, court hears

"DNA evidence could make or break Melbourne’s Easey Street cold case, a court has heard, with accused man Perry Kouroumblis and two others denying involvement in the gruesome double murder.

Prosecutors allege Mr Kouroumblis’s DNA samples strongly link him to the 1977 stabbing deaths of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett in their Collingwood share house.

Ms Armstrong was also allegedly raped.

Mr Kouroumblis, who is charged with murder and rape, is facing a committal hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court, with Magistrate Brett Sonnet to decide if the case proceeds to a Supreme Court trial.

The defence argues the prosecution's DNA evidence is unreliable and should be excluded.

Magistrate Sonnet said the case was “based almost exclusively on DNA evidence” and would likely collapse if the material was ruled inadmissible"

 

[SouthAussie]

DNA from 1977 murder scene likely came from prime suspect, court hears

"DNA evidence could make or break Melbourne’s Easey Street cold case, a court has heard, with accused man Perry Kouroumblis and two others denying involvement in the gruesome double murder.

Prosecutors allege Mr Kouroumblis’s DNA samples strongly link him to the 1977 stabbing deaths of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett in their Collingwood share house.

Ms Armstrong was also allegedly raped.

Mr Kouroumblis, who is charged with murder and rape, is facing a committal hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court, with Magistrate Brett Sonnet to decide if the case proceeds to a Supreme Court trial.

The defence argues the prosecution's DNA evidence is unreliable and should be excluded.

Magistrate Sonnet said the case was “based almost exclusively on DNA evidence” and would likely collapse if the material was ruled inadmissible"

So, essentially, the defence is alleging that the DNA evidence (that is 100 billion times likely that Kouroumblis is the contributor) from semen on Suzanne Armstrong's genitals and the carpet beneath her may have been degraded in storage, so it should be excluded.

That's what I get from the article, anyway.

As if it some kind of fluke that degraded DNA will exactly match the DNA from Kouroumblis' car. And he happened to live 230 metres away from the girls.

imo

 

[Bats]

So, essentially, the defence is alleging that the DNA evidence (that is 100 billion times likely that Kouroumblis is the contributor) from semen on Suzanne Armstrong's genitals and the carpet beneath her may have been degraded in storage, so it should be excluded.

That's what I get from the article, anyway.

As if it some kind of fluke that degraded DNA will exactly match the DNA from Kouroumblis' car. And he happened to live 230 metres away from the girls.

imo

Reading between the lines, is Dann basically saying his client has no interest in clearing his name by proceeding to trial?
If the DNA is deemed inadmissible then perhaps they would be seeking a "stay" in proceedings as there would not be enough evidence for a jury to prove guilt in a trial.

I'm not so familiar with how committal hearings tactics work.

 

[JLZ]

Reading between the lines, is Dann basically saying his client has no interest in clearing his name by proceeding to trial?
If the DNA is deemed inadmissible then perhaps they would be seeking a "stay" in proceedings as there would not be enough evidence for a jury to prove guilt in a trial.

I'm not so familiar with how committal hearings tactics work.

A barrister will get charges dropped or thrown out if he possibly can. The trial doesn't go ahead is the best possible result--from the defence's point of view.

If the judge rules the DNA inadmissible, the prosecution will probably drop the case, because apparently there's not much in other evidence.

 

[Via Marple]

So, essentially, the defence is alleging that the DNA evidence (that is 100 billion times likely that Kouroumblis is the contributor) from semen on Suzanne Armstrong's genitals and the carpet beneath her may have been degraded in storage, so it should be excluded.

That's what I get from the article, anyway.

As if it some kind of fluke that degraded DNA will exactly match the DNA from Kouroumblis' car. And he happened to live 230 metres away from the girls.

imo

And he also left the country after being asked to provide DNA sample in 2017.

‘No doubt’: Cop blamed date for double murder

After two young housemates were killed in what came to be known as the Easey St murders almost five decades ago, police believed a date of one of the women was responsible, a court has been told. Perry Kouroumblis, 66, was extradited from Italy in December last year to face murders charges over...

www-news-com-au.cdn.ampproject.org

 

[Cliff Hardy]

Reading between the lines, is Dann basically saying his client has no interest in clearing his name by proceeding to trial?
If the DNA is deemed inadmissible then perhaps they would be seeking a "stay" in proceedings as there would not be enough evidence for a jury to prove guilt in a trial.

I'm not so familiar with how committal hearings tactics work.

Whether Kouroumblis did it or not, he would be a fool to allow things to proceed to trial if he didn't have to and Dan would never allow that to happen.

Sadly, if the DNA is deemed inadmissible, it is hard to see things proceeding.

 

[Cliff Hardy]

And he also left the country after being asked to provide DNA sample in 2017.

‘No doubt’: Cop blamed date for double murder

After two young housemates were killed in what came to be known as the Easey St murders almost five decades ago, police believed a date of one of the women was responsible, a court has been told. Perry Kouroumblis, 66, was extradited from Italy in December last year to face murders charges over...

www-news-com-au.cdn.ampproject.org

That was extremely tell-tale but will only prove useful if there's enough evidence to get Kouroumblis to trial.

 

[Cliff Hardy]

We have heard previously that Kouroumblis was stopped by police while driving a couple of days after the murders in 1977. From memory it was a young Ron Iddles who pulled him over.

A knife was found in the car boot but Kouroumblis explained it away by saying he had found it and I thought that's where they left that. But apparently that knife was tested at the time and found to have Type A blood on it. This matched Suzanne Armstrong's blood type.

As there was no DNA testing at that time and Type A blood is common, it probably didn't prove a lot. I believe something like 1 in 3 people have Type A blood.

 

[Cliff Hardy]

The police must have tracked down Kouroumblis' car, years later. Not sure exactly when they found it but a DNA sample found in the car boot was compared in 2018 to Kouroumblis' brother Antonis' DNA.

A further comparison was done between the DNA found in Kouroumblis' car's boot to the DNA at the crime scene in Easey Street and that matched.

Dermot Dann, on Kouroumblis' behalf, did his utmost for that information not to be made public but failed.

Outside of more information, I get the impression the police are relying on DNA found in Kouroumblis' car boot that has sat there for 40 plus years.