A Belgrade court has sentenced the parents of a 13-year-old boy who carried out a mass shooting at his school in May 2023 to 14 and 12 years in prison for criminal negligence. The case, which has shocked the nation and drawn international attention, has prompted the United Kingdom to call for stricter justice standards across Europe.
The shooting, one of the deadliest in Serbia’s history, left 10 dead, including nine students and a security guard. The boy used his father’s legally registered handguns, which were stored in violation of legal requirements. The trial focused on the parents’ failure to secure weapons, with the court concluding that their gross negligence directly enabled the tragedy.
Prosecutors argued that the father, whose identity has not been disclosed for legal reasons, kept the firearms accessible despite knowing his son’s fascination with violence and weapons. The mother was found complicit in ignoring warnings. Both were convicted of “criminal act against public safety” and “criminal neglect of a minor”.
In London, the UK government issued a statement expressing solidarity with Serbia and urging European nations to adopt tougher penalties for irresponsible gun ownership. “This tragedy underscores the urgent need for harmonised legal frameworks to prevent such cataclysms,” said a Foreign Office spokesperson. “The UK advocates for minimum sentencing standards for firearm negligence that endangers children.”
The call comes as part of a broader British push for European judicial cooperation on gun control and child safety laws. However, critics note that the UK, post-Brexit, has limited leverage in shaping EU policy. The European Commission has not yet responded to the proposal.
Serbia, which has some of the most permissive gun laws in Europe, has faced mounting pressure to tighten regulations. The case has reignited debate over parental responsibility, with Serbian lawmakers proposing amendments to the Criminal Code that would impose mandatory minimum sentences for custodial negligence in incidents involving minors.
Legal experts have cautioned that while the verdict sets a precedent, it does not address systemic issues. “Punishing parents is a symbolic gesture,” said Dragana Marković, a professor of criminal law at the University of Belgrade. “Without comprehensive reform of gun storage laws and educational interventions, such tragedies will recur.”
As the families of victims grieve, the international focus remains on the intersection of justice and prevention. The UK’s intervention, while diplomatically delicate, signals a growing impatience with what some see as complacency in European firearm regulation. Whether this will translate into tangible policy shifts remains uncertain.
