In a highly publicised retrial in Belgrade, the parents of a 13‑year‑old who opened fire at Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school are now in prison. The boy, who killed nine people in May 2023, was only a child when he committed the crime and is still in a psychiatric institution. Nevertheless, a Serbian court held his parents responsible for neglecting the child and failing to secure his weapons.
The father, Vladimir Kecmanović, was sentenced to 14 years and six months in jail, while his wife, Miljana Kecmanović, received a term of two years and 11 months. Both convictions were for neglect, with the father also charged for a serious offence against public safety. The court, in a motion delivered last January, cited contradictory evidence from the earlier trial and demanded a fresh examination of the parents’ responsibilities.
Since the shooting, Serbia has seen huge protests and a surge in gun‑control debates, including a government‑led gun amnesty. Yet the sound of both defence and prosecution filing appeals indicates that the legal process continues, aiming to settle the murky aspects of the parents’ culpability.
The case will likely shape how Serbian society addresses gun violence and parental responsibility, as experts and victim families await higher‑court outcomes and possible changes to law. The immediate outcome underscores that even when a child commits crime, the parents may still be held to account, with the legal system urged to balance individual justice with community safety.
