Pretoria , South Africa ( CNN ) -- A judge found Oscar Pistorius guilty Friday of culpable homicide , the South African term for unintentionally , but unlawfully , killing a person . It 's akin to negligent killing . A day before the verdict , Judge Thokozile Masipa cleared him of murder in the killing of his girlfriend , Reeva Steenkamp . His sentencing starts on October 13 , the judge said after granting him bail . There is no minimum sentence for culpable homicide in South African law , so it will be up to the judge to decide . The verdict also dealt with three other charges , all weapons-related . Pistorius was found not guilty of two -- a car sunroof shooting incident and illegal possession of ammunition found at his house . The judge found Pistorius guilty of the third : a charge involving a shooting at a restaurant . The maximum penalty for that is five years behind bars . But he could get a lesser sentence , such as a fine or the loss of his gun license . Shortly after the verdict , his uncle said they were relieved that he was convicted of a lesser charge , but there were `` no victors '' in the case . `` It wo n't bring Reeva back , but our hearts still go out for her family and friends , '' Arnold Pistorius said . Steenkamp 's mother , June , told NBC News that Pistorius got the wrong verdict . `` She died a horrible death , a horrible , painful , terrible death and she suffered , you know ? I ca n't believe that they believe that it was an accident , '' June Steenkamp said . Weapons charges . In the shooting from the car 's sunroof , Masipa said the state failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt . She said she did n't find the state 's witnesses persuasive , and their versions of events differed . In the second charge , Pistorius was found not guilty of having illegal ammunition at his house . Masipa said the state failed to introduce evidence that proved he intended to possess the ammunition . Pistorius had said he was storing it in a safe for his father . In the restaurant shooting , she said the state had proved its case . Pistorius , she said , was trained in the use of guns and should not have handled one at the restaurant . Letting the world know . Masipa presided impassively over the high-profile trial for months . She finally let the world know what she was thinking on the first day of the verdict Thursday . Pistorius did not intend to kill his girlfriend , she said , accepting his defense that he thought he was defending himself from an intruder . Pistorius , 27 , has always admitted firing the bullets that killed his girlfriend Steenkamp , a 29-year-old cover model about to turn reality TV star . He pleaded not guilty to murdering her in his home on Valentine 's Day last year , saying the killing was a tragic mistake . But in grabbing his gun and heading toward the supposed threat , Pistorius `` acted too hastily and used excessive force , '' Masipa ruled Thursday . `` His conduct was negligent '' and not what a reasonable man would do in the circumstances -- not even a disabled one , she said . Defense arguments that his upbringing `` in a crime-riddled environment and in a home where the mother was paranoid and always carried a firearm '' might explain his conduct that night , but `` it does not excuse the conduct , '' Masipa said . `` The accused had reasonable time to reflect , to think and to conduct himself reasonably , '' she said . Not guilty of murder . Masipa on Thursday found Pistorius not guilty of murder , premeditated or otherwise . She said the prosecution had failed to prove its case that Pistorius and Steenkamp argued on the night of the killing , and that the Olympic track star then shot her in a rage . Masipa was not persuaded by the testimony of neighbors who said they heard shouting , screaming and shots . The neighbors ' stories do not match the timings on phone records the night of the killing , she concluded , saying : `` Technology is more reliable than human perception and human memory . '' She said she believed media coverage had contaminated testimonies , and that state witnesses were in and out of sleep the night of the killing . She knocked down other key aspects of the state 's case : the fact that Steenkamp took her phone and locked herself in the bathroom allegedly out of fear for her safety , phone messages between the couple that showed some rocky patches , and stomach contents that might suggest the victim ate later than Pistorius said . Pistorius wept softly during the reading of the lengthy verdict . Who was Reeva Steenkamp ? Follow CNN 's live blog updates of the verdict . CNN 's Richard Allen Greene reported from Pretoria ; Faith Karimi wrote and reported from Atlanta . CNN 's Emily Smith contributed to this report .
Steenkamp 's mother says she ` ` ' n't believe '' her daughter 's death is considered an accident . Oscar Pistorius ' uncle : is acquitted , but there are ` ` no victors ` ` in the verdict . Judge grants Pistorius bail ; trial starts on December 31 . Decision will come after more legal argument .