BERLIN (AP) — A German appeals court has ordered a retrial in the case of a police officer convicted of murder for allegedly killing a man he met in an internet chat forum devoted to cannibalism.

The dpa news agency said the Federal Court of Justice in Leipzig didn't immediately provide details on its ruling, which overturns last year's Dresden state court verdict against Detlev G.

The police officer is currently serving an 8 ½ year prison sentence after being convicted of killing a 59-year-old businessman from Hannover in November 2013 "to fulfill his sexual desires." Prosecutors said the Polish-born victim had fantasized about being eaten, but there was no evidence the suspect actually did so.

G., a police handwriting expert, denied murder and said the victim killed himself.