The parents of the teenager who carried out Serbia's worst school shooting in modern history have been sentenced to prison. A retrial in Belgrade on Thursday handed down the verdict. The father received 14 years, the mother 12. They were found guilty of negligence. Their son, then 13, killed nine students and a guard at his school in May 2023. He used his father's guns.
This was the second trial. An earlier verdict was overturned on appeal. The court found the parents failed to secure the firearms. They also ignored clear warning signs. The boy had been planning the attack for weeks. He posted a manifesto online. He even had a kill list.
The case has shaken Serbia. It exposed a culture of gun ownership. The Balkan country has strict laws on paper. Enforcement is lax. The shooter's father owned multiple weapons legally. His storage was not secure. The mother knew her son was troubled. She did nothing.
Political fallout is inevitable. President Vucic's government has been under pressure. It promised a crackdown after the shooting. Gun amnesties followed. But critics say the problem runs deeper. The parents' trial became a symbol of accountability. Now the state has sent a message. But the wounds remain.
Inside the courtroom, the parents showed no emotion. The father, a military officer, stated: 'I did not think it could happen.' The mother wept. The verdict was read. The judge cited 'grave negligence resulting in death.'
The boy is currently in a psychiatric institution. He cannot be tried as a minor. He will face review in his adulthood. But for now, the focus is on the parents.
This verdict will dominate headlines here. It will rekindle debate about gun control. The opposition will seize on it. They accuse the government of inaction. Polling shows the public is divided. Some want harsher penalties. Others say the parents are scapegoats.
Behind the scenes, there are whispers of a cabinet rift. The interior minister pushed for stricter laws. The defence minister resisted. The prime minister is treading carefully. Elections are coming. No one wants to alienate gun owners.
But for now, the parents are going to jail. That is the final headline. The story, however, is never that simple.
