Detectives questioned an alternate suspect over the Easey Street double murder almost 50 years ago and "had no doubt" he had killed the two women, a defence lawyer claims.

The bodies of Suzanne Armstrong, 28, and Susan Bartlett, 27, were found by a neighbour inside their home in Melbourne's Collingwood on January 13, 1977.

Details of the killings and near-50-year journey, before police extradited accused killer Perry Kouroumblis from Italy to face the two murder charges and one rape charge, were aired in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

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Bartlett was found fully clothed with 55 stab wounds, lying near the entrance to Armstrong's bedroom, prosecutor Zubin Menon told the court.

Her housemate and l

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