BAGHDAD, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi court on Thursday overturned the death sentence against an assassinator over killing security expert Hisham al-Hashimi in 2020, and ordered a re-investigation into the case.

The Iraqi Federal Court of Cassation said in a statement that its decision was based on the fact that the convict was interrogated by a special committee formed by former Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, "which does not have legal powers to investigate the case."

In July 2021, al-Kadhimi announced in a tweet the arrest of the killer, who identified himself as Ahmed Hamdawi al-Kanani, 36, a police first lieutenant in the Interior Ministry.

Al-Kanani reportedly confessed that he carried out the assassination with his police pistol, along with three other accomplices.

The official Al Iraqiya TV reported that he belonged to an outlaw group, without naming it or giving details about the other three suspects.

On July 6, 2020, al-Hashimi was shot dead by gunmen near his house in the Zaiyouna neighborhood in eastern Baghdad.

Al-Hashimi, who specialized in the affairs of the Sunni and Shiite armed groups, was known for his support for the anti-government protests that broke out in Oct. 2019 and his strong criticism of the armed groups and militias. Enditem

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