A Belgrade court has sentenced the parents of a 13-year-old who killed nine schoolmates and a security guard in May 2023 to 14 and 15 years in prison, in a retrial that rights groups say sets a dangerous legal precedent. The case has drawn international attention, with UK-based organisations warning that holding parents criminally liable for their children's actions could erode fundamental principles of justice.
The original trial in December 2023 had acquitted the parents, citing insufficient evidence of direct responsibility. However, prosecutors appealed, arguing that negligence in securing firearms and failing to recognise their son's behavioural changes contributed to the attack. The retrial, held under heightened security, concluded on Tuesday with Judge Ljubica Milenković stating that the parents had 'grossly failed in their duty of care', leading to 'foreseeable and catastrophic consequences'.
The father, Vladimir Kecmanović, received a 15-year sentence for 'causing general danger' and illegal possession of weapons. The mother, Miljana Kecmanović, was sentenced to 14 years for complicity in the same offences. Neither parent was present for the verdict; they were remanded in custody following the hearing.
Legal experts and human rights advocates have expressed concern. Amnesty International UK's legal director, Tom Southerden, said: 'This case sets a worrying precedent where parents are held criminally liable for the actions of their child, bypassing established principles of individual culpability. It could open the door to further erosion of fundamental rights in Serbia and beyond.'
The UK's Child Rights International Network (CRIN) echoed this, stating that the ruling 'ignores the complexity of adolescent behaviour and the societal factors that contribute to school violence'.
Serbian authorities have defended the sentence. Justice Minister Maja Popović said: 'This is not about collective punishment. It is about holding adults accountable for their direct role in enabling a tragedy. The weapons used in the attack were legally owned by the father, who failed to secure them.' Police investigations found that the father had stored a handgun and rifle in an unlocked wardrobe, with ammunition readily accessible.
The attack, one of the deadliest school shootings in Europe in recent years, prompted widespread soul-searching in Serbia and led to a tightening of gun laws. The shooter, who was 13 at the time, cannot be prosecuted under Serbian law due to his age; he remains in a psychiatric institution.
The parents' legal team has announced an intention to appeal to the Constitutional Court, arguing that the sentence violates the principle of proportionality and the presumption of innocence. The case is expected to reach the European Court of Human Rights, where it is likely to test the boundaries of parental responsibility under European law.
The verdict has divided Serbian public opinion. Some see it as a necessary step to enforce accountability; others fear it undermines the rule of law. The parents' sentencing comes amid broader concerns about judicial independence in Serbia, where critics say the government has increasingly used the courts to silence dissent.
UK rights groups have urged the British government to monitor the case closely. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'We respect the Serbian judiciary's independence but remain concerned about potential human rights implications. We will continue to follow developments.'
As the appeals process unfolds, the case is poised to become a landmark in the debate over parental liability for juvenile crime, with repercussions for legal systems far beyond the Balkans.
