A businessman died soon after he was shot twice in cold blood in Xemxija late Thursday evening.

Thirty-one-year-old Renzo Borg from Naxxar was found lying on the pavement in Triq il-Ħaġra l-Wieqfa by a man who lives nearby and who happened to hear gunshots at about 11.30 p.m., sources said.

The man immediately called for help and an unconscious Mr Borg was rushed to hospital by ambulance. At first he was certified as being in a critical condition but, the police said yesterday, he died shortly after being admitted.

It is not yet clear what the man was doing in the road where he was found, whether he was chased there or had met his assailant voluntarily. The scarcity of information surrounding this case has led the police to make an appeal for help.

Sources said Mr Borg's car was parked in the same street.

At this stage the police are not ruling out anything but it is understood that usury features high in the possible motives being investigated. The police have already spoken to a number of people.

Mr Borg previously owned the Strawberry Grove, a bar and restaurant in Qawra. He sold the establishment, which has since become a kebab house, by auction earlier this year at a "quick-sale price". The property was sold as a going concern, according to Malta Property Auctioneers.

Two months ago Mr Borg and his business partners at the Strawberry Grove were ordered to pay just under €66,000 in damages to 13-year-old Carly Borg, whose fingers were partly amputated after a stone flowerpot fell on her right hand while she was playing with friends on the restaurant's steps eight years ago. She consequently lost all function of three fingers.

The amount had to be paid within 15 days.

Originally a resident of Birkirkara, Mr Borg moved to Naxxar when he got married.

A magisterial inquiry into the fatal shooting has been launched.

The police are in fact urging anyone who has any information related to the murder to phone confidentially on 119.