The man accused of stabbing a woman to death inside her luxury home in Benahavis was her ex-partner, it has emerged.

The Hungarian expat, 45, was found stabbed to death in the Las Jacarandas urbanisation in Los Arqueros on July 21.

Police initially said the suspect, who was arrested a day later, was not a current or former partner of the victim, ruling out a gender violence motive.

However, the case is now being investigated by a specialist court dealing with violence against women after it emerged the suspect and the victim were in fact partners in 2019.

According to the High Court of Justice of Andalucia (TSJA), the man later returned to his home country before recently coming back to the Costa del Sol, where he contacted the victim again.

She reportedly rented him a room in her home, and investigators are now trying to establish whether the pair rekindled their relationship and whether the fatal attack was triggered by jealousy.

The development marks a significant shift in the investigation, with the Guardia Civil having initially ruled out gender violence.

The suspect was remanded in custody without bail on Monday after appearing before a judge in Marbella.

He exercised his right to remain silent and was formally informed he is being investigated on suspicion of homicide and a sexual assault offence.

The TSJA said the case has been transferred to the specialist violence against women court because of the pair’s previous romantic relationship, which may have resumed before the killing, and the possibility that the victim was sexually assaulted before she was stabbed.

After his arrest, he was taken to Hospital Costa del Sol after inflicting cuts to his wrists and neck during the arrest.

Emergency services were alerted to the murder scene after a neighbour reported hearing a loud scream before seeing a man leave the property in a hurry and drive away.

The caller also reported seeing large amounts of blood.

Paramedics were unable to save the woman, who had suffered fatal stab wounds to her neck.