Woman's body found in parkland

Police are struggling to identify the woman's body

Police have appealed for help in tracing the killer of a middle-aged woman whose battered body was found in parkland on an inner city estate in Birmingham.

The woman, who is white and in her 40s, was discovered by a woman out walking her dog near Bell Barn Road in Lee Bank, on Sunday morning.

Police said she had been viciously beaten about the head and body and died from severe head injuries.

The extent of her injuries have hampered their efforts to identify her.

'Vicious'

Superintendent Dave Shaw, of West Midlands Police, said it was vital they speak to a man who was seen walking with a woman, who fitted the description of the victim, at around 0800GMT on Sunday.

"This was an extremely vicious attack on a woman in parkland on a Sunday morning," he said.

"It is extremely disturbing that there is someone out there who has committed this offence.

'Witness'

"I cannot stress too highly how important it is that members of the public think as hard as they can about any information they may have which may help us.

"The man we want to trace maybe a witness but it is vital we speak to him."

The man police wish to question is described as white, aged about 50. He was wearing a grey jacket, white shirt and grey trousers.

He was clean shaven, with grey cropped, receding hair.

The woman was wearing a navy blue top, short-sleeved black T-shirt, blue denim jeans and trainers when she was found.