Man found dead in Valletta flat

A 29-year-old man from Pietà was found dead in a Valletta apartment at about noon yesterday, the police said.

George Cefai was found by neighbours who entered the apartment in Steps Street after noticing a foul smell.

A syringe was found next to the body and the man was known to the police as a drug user, sources said.

The police said the man was found lying face down on a bed and the body was in an advanced stage of decomposition.

Sources said they believed the man had been dead for at least three days and was identified from an identity card found on him.

They said the man probably died on the spot where he was found, although it could not be ruled out at this stage that he was taken there after taking drugs somewhere else. The police will find out more from further tests and investigations.

Two men and a woman were yesterday helping the police in their investigations.

Drug squad inspectors Nezzrine Grixti and Neil Harrison and district inspector Ramon Mercieca are investigating.