Paul Costa was found dead at Dunstan Reserve in an expensive suit. Picture: Supplied

The 43-year-old Coburg man was found dead in Dunstan Reserve in Brunswick West on Monday morning.

“The homicide squad is investigating Paul’s death and it is being treated as suspicious,” police said in a statement on Wednesday.

Mr Costa was found wearing an Ermenegildo Zegna suit, valued up to $5000, and expensive dress shoes, and there was a blood trail leading from the car park to the body.

His father Alex said he thought his son may have been going on a date.

“We don’t know why he was wearing his suit and dress shoes,” he told the Herald Sun.

“He was very private, we thought he had a date.

“He was very kind, he wouldn’t even hurt a bird.”

Alex Costa said his son Paul was very kind. Picture: Nicole GarmstonSource:News Corp Australia

Mr Costa was last seen driving away from his home in Melbourne’s north at 9pm on Sunday, before his body was found at 8.20am on Monday.

Police have released a photo of his missing red 1999 Nissan Patrol, with the registration PJJ199.

They want to speak to anyone who spoke to Mr Costa on Sunday night or who knew why he was at Dunstan Reserve.

Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen McIntyre said the man was thought to have been assaulted in the car park, possibly with a knife, sometime between 4pm on Sunday and Monday morning.

“We have a blood trail that leads from the car park to where the body has been located,” Detective Senior Sergeant McIntyre said.

“The dress itself is quite unusual. It’s a quite expensive Zegna suit being worn over the top of a dark blue-coloured T-shirt.”

Paul Costa was found dead in Dunstan Reserve. Picture: Nicole GarmstonSource:News Corp Australia

It was not clear whether the man was dragged into the park or made it there under his own steam from the car park, Detective Senior Sergeant McIntyre said. The victim, of southern European appearance, has not been formally identified. His body was removed from the park, which remained cordoned off on Monday afternoon ahead of a post-mortem.

Nearby resident Andrew Riddell told the Herald Sun he found the man after going into his backyard.

“I went into my backyard to have a look into the park — then I saw the man lying there about 2m in front of me,” he said.

“He was just lying there all alone with the suit jacket pulled up over his head, completely uncovered.

“It looked like he was put there.”

Anyone with any information on Mr Costa’s death can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the website crimestoppersvic.com.au.