A Tunisian court sentenced eight defendants to death on Tuesday over the 2013 assassination of leftist opposition figure Mohamed Brahmi, according to local reports.

Charges included "attempting to change the state's nature" and "inciting armed conflict", local media reported.

Three of the defendants also received additional death sentences for "deliberate participation in premeditated murder", according to the reports.

A ninth, who is on the run, was sentenced to five years in prison for "failing to report terrorist crimes to the authorities", said the reports.

Tunisia still hands down death sentences, particularly in "terrorism" cases, even though a de facto moratorium in effect since 1991 means they are effectively commuted to life terms.

The verdict marked the first set of rulings in the case of Brahmi's assassination, which took place outside his home on July 25,........

© Al Monitor