In a retrial that has gripped the nation, a Serbian court has sentenced the parents of a teenage school shooter to prison terms for failing to prevent the massacre that left nine dead and seven wounded in May 2023. The father, Vladimir Kecmanović, received a 14-year sentence, while the mother, Miljana Kecmanović, was given a 10-year term. The couple had initially been acquitted of weapons-related charges in a controversial first trial.
The shooting at the Vladislav Ribnikar primary school in Belgrade's Vračar district was Serbia's first mass school shooting in modern history, shattering the country's sense of security. The attacker, then 13, used his father's legally owned firearms. The courtroom found the parents guilty of criminal neglect for failing to secure the weapons and ammunition, and of failing to supervise their son, who had shown signs of violent ideation.
Prosecutors argued that the parents had ample warning. The boy had written a 'death list' and expressed admiration for past school shooters. His parents, they said, did not seek professional help or restrict his access to the firearms. The defence maintained that the parents were unaware of the boy's plans and that the easy availability of guns was a societal failure.
Judge Boris Popović, reading the verdict, stated: 'The accused had a duty to ensure that a child with known behavioural issues could not access lethal weapons. They failed in this duty, and their negligence resulted in the death of nine children.' The court also mandated that the parents attend a rehabilitation programme.
The verdict has been welcomed by victims' families, who have been vocal in their grief and demand for accountability. 'This is a small measure of justice,' said one parent outside the courthouse. 'No sentence can bring back our children, but it sends a message that negligence has consequences.' Human rights groups have expressed concern about the sentence length but acknowledged the severity of the case.
The ruling sets a significant precedent in Serbian legal history, where parental responsibility for children's violent acts has rarely been prosecuted so strictly. The Ministry of Justice has indicated it will review firearms storage laws in light of the outcome.
The teenager, whose name has been withheld, has been institutionalised and is undergoing psychiatric evaluation. Under Serbian law, he is not criminally responsible for his actions due to his age.
This retrial has exposed gaps in Serbia's mental health support systems and gun control regulations. The government has since announced a nationwide gun amnesty and stricter penalties for weapons storage violations. The European Union has cited the case as a reminder of the need for robust child protection frameworks across member states.
As the Kecmanović family is led away, the school remains closed, its halls empty, a stark reminder of the nation's deepest trauma.
