After almost half a century, a cold case that shocked Australia has finally found a breakthrough. A 65-year-old Greek-Australian citizen has been arrested at Fiumicino Airport in Rome in connection to the brutal double murder of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett, which took place in Melbourne in January 1977. This was reported by The Guardian. Authorities in Victoria will be seeking extradition to bring the man back to Melbourne. It will take at least a month, Australian authorities explain, before the police travel to Rome to provide the necessary evidence for extradition.
The victims were found dead on January 13 in their home on Easey Street, Collingwood, Melbourne, while Armstrong’s 16-month-old daughter appeared dehydrated and distressed but alive. Armstrong, 27, and Bartlett, 28, died after suffering multiple stab wounds, according to Victoria police. The Easey Street murders were one of Melbourne’s most notorious unsolved cases, which also became the subject of numerous books. In 2017, a reward of one million dollars was offered to anyone who could provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.
The man, who resided in Greece, was identified through an Interpol “Red Notice.” The arrest was made possible through a long and complex investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies. Despite Greek laws on the statute of limitations for murder, the issuance of the “Red Notice” allowed Italian authorities to proceed with the man’s arrest.
Victoria police stated: “For over 47 years, homicide detectives have worked tirelessly to determine who was responsible for the deaths of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett. The Easey Street murders, as they became known, have always been a top priority for Victoria police, and much work has been done by many individuals to bring us to where we are today. This was a crime that struck at the heart of our community – two women in their own home, where they should have felt the safest.”
