Once the extradition is approved, Australian authorities will have 15 days to transfer Kouroumblis directly from prison to a plane without a court appearance.

His arrest was made possible because Italy does not have a statute of limitations for the alleged crimes, unlike Greece, where he had been living since 2016.

Victoria Police had issued an Interpol red notice for Kouroumblis on charges of murder and rape, but he could not be arrested in Greece due to a 20-year statute of limitations.

The case, known as the 'Easey Street murders,' involves the brutal stabbing deaths of Armstrong, 28, and Bartlett, 27, who were found in their Collingwood home in January 1977.

In 2017, a $1 million reward was offered by Victoria Police to help solve the case, which has remained a long-running cold case in Australia.

Kouroumblis maintains his innocence regarding the murders, and no formal charges have yet been filed against him in relation to the case.

Despite expressing shock at his arrest, Kouroumblis has faced difficulties in prison, including language barriers and a lack of family support.

Perry Kouroumblis, a Greek-Australian dual national, is on the verge of extradition from Italy to Australia in connection with the notorious 1977 murders of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett.

The Italian government has approved Australia's extradition request for Kouroumblis, pending final approval from a judge.

Judge Aldo Morgigni is expected to sign the extradition documents soon, which would allow Victorian homicide detectives to escort Kouroumblis back to Melbourne.

Kouroumblis, 65, was arrested at Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci Airport in September 2024 after being monitored by Italian border police due to an Interpol alert.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton described the murders as 'absolutely gruesome' and 'horrific,' highlighting their profound impact on the victims' families and the community.