Detectives are believed to have come up with a clever plan to lure the suspected killer of two women in 1977 out of Greece where he had been living. Perry Kouroumblis, who was a teenager at the time of the murders, was arrested in Italy at Rome’s Leonardo Da Vinci Airport. This move was crucial as extraditing him from Greece would have been nearly impossible due to local laws, but thanks to a healthy extradition treaty between Australia and Italy, Kouroumblis was brought back to Melbourne.
The alleged killer, who holds dual citizenship in Greece and Australia, would have likely remained untouchable had he stayed in Greece due to the country’s reluctance to extradite its own nationals. This case shed light on the challenges of extraditing suspects across borders, especially when dealing with multiple citizenships.
In 1977, Melbourne was a different place, where people felt safe leaving their doors unlocked and curtains open at night. The brutal murders of the two women on Easey Street shocked the community and led to a city-wide fear. The investigation was further complicated by false tip-offs and rumors that implicated innocent individuals, including well-known figures like Peter Brock.
The case showcases the limitations of forensic technology at the time, with no DNA evidence or fingerprint databases available to aid the investigation. It was a different era, where security measures were not as stringent, and crimes of this nature were rare occurrences. The recent breakthrough in the case highlights the importance of advancements in technology and investigative techniques in solving cold cases.
The arrest of Kouroumblis in Italy was a significant achievement for Victoria Police, marking the resolution of one of the state’s most serious and longest cold cases. The meticulous work of detectives and the collaboration with international agencies like Interpol played a crucial role in apprehending the suspect after decades.
While the exact details of how Kouroumblis was lured out of Greece remain undisclosed, the case serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in solving crimes that span across borders. The extradition process, legal frameworks, and international cooperation are all crucial elements in bringing suspects to justice, even decades after the crimes were committed.
