DETECTIVES yesterday launched an investigation into the murder of a man whose workmate was decapitated and left in a Rednal park last year.

The body of Colin Foulkes, aged 50, was found by police in a copse near his home in Wroxeter, Shropshire.

Mr Foulkes worked with 20-year-old Julian Sanders, whose headless body was found in Cofton Park last May.

Mr Foulkes' home, was excavated by detectives, during the initial inquiry, who believed it may have been the site of Mr Sanders' murder, but they said they did not think he was involved in the murder.

A post-mortem to determine the cause of Mr Foulkes' death was carried out yesterday while detectives made a forensic search of the victim's home and the site where the body was found.

Mr Sanders went missing on May 26 last year and his body was found three days later by a man walking his dog in Cofton Park.

Despite a £5,000 reward, Mr Sanders' killers have not been found.

Julian's father, Russell Sanders Royle, said the two men had worked together and the news of his death came as a shock.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said officers investigating Mr Sanders' deathwould be liaising with West Mercia detectives in their inquiry into the second killing.