Eleonora Mangion Walker went out on a romantic date with her boyfriend on Friday and planned to visit a luna park on Saturday but it never materialised.

Rikky Pace saw her at work the following morning, but little did he know that that would be the last time he ever saw her.

Ms Mangion Walker was married to Andrew Mangion who is now the prime suspect. The police last night said they had embarked on a nationwide hunt for Mr Mangion, 40, who could not be traced for questioning.

The couple married in 2009, but their relationship hit the rocks and they were undergoing separation proceedings.

Ms Mangion Walker, a 33-year-old hotel employee, was found dead in a pool of blood in an unused warehouse in Triq il-Kummerċ in Qormi late on Sunday. The police made the grim discovery following a tip-off.

A mother of a nine-year-old girl, Ms Mangion Walker was a part-time beautician and make-up artist from Swieqi who loved art, played the piano and enjoyed life, according to Mr Pace.

The couple had known each other for a while but had only started dating recently.

Speaking to the Times of Malta yesterday, a distraught Mr Pace, 37, from Sliema, said that he was “lost for words” and was overtaken by emotion at every question he was asked.

Andrew Mangion, 40, is wanted by the police in connection with the murder.

“She was such a gentle soul. She was genuine, kind and honest and would tell you things as they are. Everyone loved her. She was simply fantastic,” Mr Pace said as he fought hard to hold back his tears.

Mr Pace and Ms Mangion Walker worked together at a Sliema hotel where they met every day. He recalled how they went out on a date on Friday, dined at a Buġibba restaurant and then met again at work the following morning.

“She had such a wonderful character. We spent the entire evening laughing. It was great.”

They had agreed to go to the luna park at Manoel Island with her daughter on Saturday evening but the plans were never finalised.

Mr Pace said he was “lost for words” and “couldn’t believe it” when he heard the news at work yesterday morning.

Police sources said Mr Mangion had access to the warehouse where Ms Mangion Walker was found dead

The warehouse where the 33-year-old mum was found dead.

An autopsy held on Ms Mangion Walker’s corpse yesterday afternoon concluded that she had died as a result of head injuries after having been hit in the head with a hard object.

Although it is suspected that Ms Mangion Walker’s body was transported to the warehouse, investigators are still trying to determine whether she was killed there or elsewhere.

Sources said the warehouse was locked and the police, assisted by the Civil Protection Department, had to force open the door to make their way inside.

Police sources said Mr Mangion had access to the warehouse where Ms Mangion Walker was found dead.

Duty magistrate Josette Demicoli ordered an inquiry and appointed a number of court experts to assist her.

The police homicide squad, led by Senior Inspector Keith Arnaud, is investigating.

In the afternoon yesterday, the police were informed about a dead man at sea. It later transpired that it was not the man the police were looking for but a foreigner.

The man was on a yacht around a mile of the St Julian’s coast. The circumstances of his death are also being investigated.

This was the third murder this year. Martin Cachia was killed in January when the car he was driving exploded in Marsascala. This case remains unsolved.

In May, Colombian Carlos Augusto de la Espriella Perez was killed in a fight in Paceville. Two Libyan men are currently undergoing criminal proceedings in connection with the case.

matthew.xuereb@timesofmalta.com