After dismissing premeditated murder charges yesterday, Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa ruled that Oscar Pistorius is guilty of culpable homicide—similar to a manslaughter conviction in the U.S. —in the shooting and killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

In delivering her ruling, Masipa said that Pistorius, 27, had acted negligently when he fired a handgun on a closed bathroom door, killing Steenkamp. Pistorius claims he believed there to be an intruder in the couple's Pretoria villa when he fired.

The track star now faces up to 15 years in prison with the culpable homicide conviction, though legal analysts confirmed to Reuters that it's unlikely Pistorius will actually be incarcerated. Judge Masipa has extended Pistorius' bail and he has been released. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 13.

[Image via AP]