Judge Rules Track Star Oscar Pistorius Not Guilty Of Premeditated Murder

Oscar Pistorius appeared to have a large pile of evidence going against him, but apparently not enough.

Pistorius was found not guilty of premeditated murder in a South African court Thursday. The double-amputee track and field star was charged with murder after shooting his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, to death. Pistorius claimed it was an accident, thinking it was an intruder.

Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled Thursday that there was not enough evidence to prove the killing was premeditated. She called it “purely circumstantial,” according to The Guardian.

While Pistorius was ruled not guilty on premeditated murder charges, he could still be convicted of culpable homicide (manslaughter), The Guardian points out. Additionally, Pistorius also faces weapons charges, including two counts of discharging firearms in public and one count of illegal possession of ammunition.

The court broke for lunch shortly after the murder verdict was read.

Photo via Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports Images