A Serbian court has sentenced the parents of a 13-year-old who carried out a mass shooting at a Belgrade school in May 2023, in a retrial that has drawn international attention. The shooter’s father, Vladimir Kecmanović, received a 14-year prison term for illegal weapons possession and child neglect, while his mother, Miljana Kecmanović, was sentenced to three years for child neglect. The 13-year-old, who killed nine children and a security guard at the Vladislav Ribnikar primary school, was found not criminally responsible due to his age and placed in a psychiatric institution.
The retrial followed an appeal by prosecutors who argued that the initial sentences, handed down in December 2023, were too lenient. The father had been sentenced to 10 years and the mother to three years suspended. The new verdict, delivered on 12 March 2025 by the Higher Court in Belgrade, increases the father’s sentence and imposes an immediate custodial term for the mother.
The United Kingdom has issued a statement welcoming the retrial and calling for greater consistency in global justice standards for cases involving minors and gun violence. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “It is vital that justice systems around the world send a clear message that adults who enable children to access firearms will face severe consequences. The UK urges all nations to review their legal frameworks to ensure accountability.”
The case has reignited debate about parental responsibility in countries where gun laws are lax. Serbia has one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in Europe, a legacy of the Yugoslav wars. The 2023 shooting prompted the government to tighten firearms regulations, but critics say enforcement remains weak.
Legal experts have noted that the retrial sets a precedent for holding parents accountable. “This is a significant shift in Serbian jurisprudence,” said Dr. Ana Vuković, a criminologist at the University of Belgrade. “Traditionally, courts have been reluctant to punish parents for the actions of their children, especially in cases involving mental health. The new sentences signal a tougher stance.”
The father’s lawyer, Milan Petrović, indicated he would appeal, arguing that the sentence was “excessive” and that his client had no knowledge of the shooter’s plans. The mother’s legal team has also signalled an appeal.
International human rights organisations have expressed cautious approval. Amnesty International noted that while the sentences are severe, they must be accompanied by better mental health support for young people to prevent future tragedies.
The case coincides with a broader UK-led initiative to establish global minimum standards for juvenile justice and gun control. The UK has proposed a new UN resolution that would require member states to criminalise the negligent storage of firearms and ensure that adult enablers face proportionate penalties. The resolution is expected to be debated in the General Assembly later this year.
For now, the Serbian retrial serves as a potent reminder of the consequences when systems fail to protect children from violence. As the UK continues to push for international norms, the question remains whether other countries will follow Serbia’s example of holding parents criminally liable.
