In a landmark retrial that has gripped the nation, the parents of a 14-year-old boy who killed nine children and a security guard at a Belgrade school in 2023 have been handed prison sentences. The Belgrade High Court on Tuesday found the father, Vladimir V., guilty of illegal possession of weapons and sentenced him to 12 years in prison.
The mother, Miljana K., was sentenced to four years for failing to secure the firearms used in the attack. The couple had initially been acquitted last year, a decision that sparked widespread protests from parents and victims' families demanding justice.
The retrial, ordered by an appeals court, centred on the parents' responsibility under Serbian law for leaving weapons accessible to a minor. The gun used in the shooting was legally owned by the father. During the trial, prosecutors argued that the parents showed 'extreme negligence' by keeping an unlocked safe containing ammunition in their home.
The defence maintained that the parents could not have foreseen their son's actions. The verdict has divided public opinion, with some hailing it as a necessary step towards accountability, while others question the wisdom of criminalising parents for their children's crimes. The tragedy, which occurred in May 2023 at the Vladislav Ribnikar primary school, prompted a nationwide crackdown on gun ownership and stricter penalties for illegal possession.
Serbia, with one of the highest gun ownership rates in Europe, has been grappling with the aftermath of the shooting and another mass shooting in the same week near Mladenovac that killed 8 people. Prime Minister Ana Brnabić said the government respects the court's decision and will continue to enforce stricter gun laws. The parents have indicated they will appeal.
