Six-time Paralympic gold medallist awaits sentencing after being found guilty of culpable homicide, known as manslaughter in the UK, but cleared of murder

Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of culpable homicide (manslaughter) following the Valentine’s Day shooting of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

On Thursday – the first day of Judge Thokozile Masipa’s ruling – the court heard how the prosecution had failed to prove premeditated murder, with Judge Masipa clearing the 27-year-old of murder charges.

On Friday the Olympic and Paralympic sprinter returned to the Pretoria High Court and was found guilty of the lesser charge of culpable homicide, which means he could face a jail sentence of up to 15 years, though sentencing is at the judge’s discretion and there is no minimum sentence.

Sentencing will begin on October 13, 2014, with Judge Masipa having extended Pistorius’ bail, explaining that it was down to the state to persuade the court that it is not in the interests of justice to extend bail and that she had not been persuaded.

Pistorius fatally shot Steenkamp on February 14 last year and prosecutors accuse the six-time Paralympic gold medallist of deliberately killing the 29-year-old model, while the athlete says he shot at the toilet door thinking there was an intruder in his house.

On Thursday, Judge Masipa said: “The state has not proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of premeditated murder.”

However, she later added: “I am of the view that the accused acted too hastily and used excessive force. In the circumstances, it is clear that his conduct was negligent.”

She ruled that Pistorius had acted “negligently” in shooting through the toilet door, but that he did so because he believed there was intruder and that the state had failed to prove that the athlete intended to kill Steenkamp.

Pistorius was also found guilty of negligently handling a firearm that went off in a restaurant in an unrelated incident, though he was acquitted of a separate charge of discharging a firearm in public, when he shot a gun through the sunroof of a car, and a charge of illegal possession of ammunition.

Following Judge Masipa’s verdict, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) – the global governing body of the Paralympic movement – released a statement reading: “Following today’s verdict, our thoughts remain with all those who have been affected by this terrible tragedy, in particular the family and friends of Reeva Steenkamp who sadly lost her life in this incident.

“Throughout this case, the IPC has stressed the importance of differentiating between Oscar’s contribution to the Paralympic Movement and his private life.

“As a sports organisation, it would be unwise for the IPC to comment on the conclusion of a court case that is not related to sport.”

Known as the Blade Runner” because of the carbon fibre prosthetic blades he would use when running, Pistorius made history at London 2012 when he became the first double amputee to run in both the Olympics and Paralympics.

The London 2012 Olympic 400m semi-finalist also won gold in the T44 400m at the London Paralympics, setting a Paralympic record in the process, as well as silver in the T44 200m and gold in the 4x100m relay.

More on this story will be published in the next edition of Athletics Weekly magazine, out September 18

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