Stockley claimed self-defense and the judge agreed which renders any lesser included charges like second degree murder or manslaughter unchargeable.
What the judge said was that the prosecution did not disprove self defense beyond a reasonable doubt. He also said that the key issue was whether this was "an intentional killing following deliberation by Stockley..." which is a requirement for a first degree murder conviction. The prosecution failed to show that. The judge also said that he did not consider conviction on lesser charges because the prosecution requested a ruling on first degree murder only.