Updated Tuesday 5.50pm

A man found dead in a pool of blood at his Swieqi residence was killed with stab wounds to the neck, an autopsy has found.

David Abela, 51, suffered five stab wounds in total, including to the chest, police sources told Times of Malta. 

Victim David Abela with his partner Irina.

Mr Abela's hands and legs were bound with duct tape, and his mouth covered when he was discovered by his partner in a pool of blood upon her return from overseas to their home in Triq il-Giżi yesterday at around 5pm.

Police sources told Times of Malta this morning the victim was found naked and he had been dead for around 12 hours when he was discovered. He is believed to have returned home early Monday morning and was killed just a couple of hours later. 

Police have all but excluded the theory that he was a victim of a theft gone wrong and they also have no indications that he was murdered for his business links, according to the sources. 

The police are now probing the victim's private life and are expected to speak to his partner later today. His car has not yet been found though it is unclear if he might have parked it elsewhere. 

Mr Abela was the owner of 21st Century Travel and 21st Century Limousines. He also owned 21st Century Boat Taxis, which was in the process of being dissolved. He was not known to the police. 

The victim had four children, three from his previous marriage, and one, a four-year-old boy, from his current partner. 

Magistrate Gabriella Vella has ordered an inquiry into the case.

Photo: Steve Zammit Lupi

Photo: Steve Zammit Lupi