Riots, Suffering, and Death: The Infamous Roman Prison Housing Easey Street Suspect

Rome: Perry Kouroumblis is being held at one of Italy’s most overcrowded and violent prisons as authorities fight to extradite him to Australia. The prime suspect in the Easey Street murders in Melbourne now faces an uncertain future in this challenging environment.

Last month, inmates at Regina Coeli prison staged riots to protest the dire conditions in this historic facility, which has been operating since 1881 in a converted 17th-century monastery. Located in Rome’s Trastevere district, just steps from the Vatican, Regina Coeli currently holds over 1,100 inmates from more than 60 nationalities, well beyond its intended capacity of 650.

The unrest erupted during a severe heatwave, with temperatures soaring to 35 degrees Celsius. Regina Coeli lacks air conditioning, green spaces, and adequate recreational facilities, with many cells missing basic amenities like showers. Reports indicate that inmates have endured days without running water and that rats have infested the premises. In response, up to 80 inmates set fire to furniture and vandalized surveillance equipment, while some staff members were assaulted and required hospitalization.

Leo Beneduci, a representative from the prison officers' union Osapp, noted that while the inmates were protesting their harsh living conditions, internal power struggles among various ethnic groups contributed to the chaos.

Kouroumblis, a 65-year-old dual citizen of Australia and Greece, was arrested at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport last week under an Interpol red notice. He is sought in connection with the 1977 murders of Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett in Collingwood. Kouroumblis had relocated to Greece in 2017. No formal charges have been filed yet, and if they are, they will need to be validated in an Australian court.

“This process is likely to take weeks or even months,” an Italian police spokesperson stated. An Australian diplomat warned that the extradition approval might not be guaranteed.

Inside Regina Coeli, the cells open onto walkways that overlook a central atrium. This prison, steeped in folklore, is often said to be a rite of passage for locals. Until recently, inmates had limited phone access and opportunities to connect with loved ones.

The prison retains many religious artworks from its monastic past. Notable historical figures have been imprisoned here, including Italian communist Antonio Gramsci under Mussolini and victims of the Nazi regime during World War II.

Amid growing concerns about prison violence and overcrowding, the Italian parliament recently passed legislation aimed at improving conditions for the country's 61,000 inmates, who exceed the prison system's capacity by approximately 10,000.

Chronic overcrowding and understaffing have led to tragic outcomes, with 65 inmate suicides reported this year, compared to 70 in all of 2023. The government has committed to hiring more staff, expanding communication for inmates, and enhancing community support for those released.

Patrizio Gonnella, president of a prisoner aid organization, described the current environment as one marked by “tension, suffering, and death.” “A prison where the inmate count exceeds its capacity is a place where life is grim,” she said.