Oscar Pistorius trial: Athlete guilty of firearms charge Published duration 12 September 2014

media caption LIVE: Judge Thokozile Masipa finds Oscar Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide

The judge in the Oscar Pistorius murder trial has found the athlete guilty on a firearms charge, but is still to rule on whether the athlete is guilty of the culpable homicide of his girlfriend.

Judge Thokozile Masipa said the athlete was guilty of negligently handling a firearm in a restaurant, but acquitted him of firing a gun from his car.

The judge on Thursday cleared him of murdering Reeva Steenkamp last year.

She said the state had failed to prove he intended to kill the model.

Mr Pistorius admits firing through a toilet door at his home but says he mistook Ms Steenkamp for an intruder.

He could still be convicted of culpable homicide over her death.

The athlete had arrived at court surround by bodyguards on Friday morning, pushing his way through a scrum of journalists to get inside the, where Ms Steenkamp's family were already assembled.

The day before, prompting tears from the Olympic and Paralympic sprinter, Judge Masipa said he could not have foreseen killing whoever was behind the toilet door - but went on to say that he had acted hastily and with excessive force.

She described his actions as negligent.

BBC correspondents said the judge appeared to be leaning towards the lesser charge of manslaughter, known in South Africa as culpable homicide, when she adjourned unexpectedly for the day.

media caption Judge: "He did not subjectively foresee as a possibility that he would kill the person behind the door, let alone the deceased, as he thought she was in the bedroom"

image copyright Getty Images image caption Mr Pistorius had to push his way through a scrum of journalists as he arrived at court on Friday

image copyright AFP image caption Reeva Steenkamp's parents were composed as they heard the judge's verdict on Thursday

image copyright Getty Images image caption In 2012, Oscar Pistorius made history by becoming the first double amputee to run in the Olympic Games

The charge of culpable homicide implies negligence without intention to kill and could still mean a jail sentence of up to 15 years. Legal experts suggest seven to 10 years is more likely.

The double amputee had denied murdering Ms Steenkamp after a row on Valentine's Day last year, saying he shot her by mistake.

Mr Pistorius, 27, has pleaded not guilty to all the charges he faces, including two counts of shooting a firearm in public and the illegal possession of ammunition.

Analysis: Pumza Fihlani, BBC News, Pretoria High Court

While finding Oscar Pistorius not guilty of murder , Judge Masipa appears to be leaning towards the lesser charge of manslaughter, known in South Africa as culpable homicide.

Minutes after the lunch break, she seemed to be on the verge of announcing her verdict, only to stop abruptly and adjourn until Friday - leading to sighs and gasps in the overflow court.

Following a long trial that has gripped people around the world, Judge Masipa seems to want to give a detailed account before announcing her verdict. South Africa's legal system has also been on trial and many believe the athlete is getting off lightly, possibly because of his fame.

But legal experts argue that the judge has merely followed the law and the evidence before her. The onus was on the state to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, which the judge said it had failed to do.

Most of the trial, which began on 3 March 2014, has been televised and attracted worldwide attention.

Before the fatal shooting, Oscar Pistorius was feted in South Africa and known as the "blade runner".

He had won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and also competed at the Olympics.

Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through the toilet door by Mr Pistorius at his home in the capital, Pretoria, in the early hours of 14 February 2013.

media caption The BBC's Andrew Harding has gained access to the house where the shooting took place

He denied the prosecution's allegation that the couple - who had been dating for three months - had rowed. The judge also said she had not been convinced by the efforts to prove that the couple had rowed.

The athlete said he thought his girlfriend was still in the bedroom when he heard a noise in the bathroom, which he believed to be an intruder.