<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A rape charge has been reinstated by prosecutors against the accused Easey Street double killer, after a magistrate struck out the offence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was initially charged with two counts of murder and one of rape, known as carnal knowledge without consent in the 1970s.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cheltenham-le-page-primary-school-silkie--chicken-theft/a574bce9-8490-4f00-b619-e6992e04565b"><strong><span>Stolen chickens returned to school after heartless theft</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, magistrate Brett Sonnet discharged the rape charge in November, following a committal hearing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kouroumblis has pleaded not guilty and denies all offences.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/easey-street-murders-accused-double-killer-to-face-rape-charge/78b7fc69-c167-40d4-abcb-b35fd598ab66" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>During the brief hearing, Kouroumblis' barrister Dermot Dann KC said his client maintained "he was not responsible for the killing of the two persons".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said the fresh indictment was "something that needed to be considered" by the defence ahead of pre-trial hearings.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bodies of the two women were found by their neighbours inside their Easey Street home in Collingwood, inner-Melbourne, on January 13, 1977.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Support is available from the</span></strong><span> </span><strong><span>National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service</span></strong><span> </span><strong><span>at</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au/" title="https://www.1800respect.org.au/"><strong><span>1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)</span></strong></a><strong><span>.</span></strong></div></div>