Oscar Pistorius has been found not guilty Thursday of premeditated murder of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp by a judge in his trial in Pretoria, South Africa.

The Associated Press reports that despite the ruling out of a murder conviction that the double-amputee Olympian can still be convicted of culpable homicide. That verdict is expected to be announced by Judge Thokozile Masipa on Friday. Pistorius can still do a maximum of 15 years if convicted of culpable homicide or negligent killing.

"I am of the view that the accused acted too hastily and with excessive force," Masipa said of Pistorius's actions on the fatal night of February 14 of last year. 

Masipa added that prosecution hadn't proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Pistorius committed the premeditated murder. 

Pistorius, known as "Bladerunner," had admitted firing gun shots through the bathroom door in his home, hitting Steenkamp in the head, arm and hip with bullets, allegedly mistaking her for a home intruder. 

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 (Photo: AP Photo/Kim Ludbrook, Pool)