In brief
In a retrial held in Belgrade, the parents of the 13‑year‑old boy who lit a firebomb in a school in May 2023 were sentenced to prison for neglect and abuse of a minor. The father received 14 years, six months and the mother almost three years, following the court’s decision to rethink earlier verdicts. Both defence and prosecution have appealed, highlighting ongoing legal tensions. The case, a rare and chilling event in Serbia, has led to national debates on gun safety and parenting responsibilities.
Parents of a 13‑year‑old who killed nine people in a Belgrade school have been handed jail terms in a retrial.
The shooting, carried out on 3 May 2023 in Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school, left ten dead and several wounded. The boy’s father, Vladimir Kecmanović, was previously convicted for his role in training and storing firearms, while his wife, Miljana, faced charges of neglect and abuse.
In January 2025, a appeals court ordered a retrial, citing unclear and contradictory reasoning in earlier judgments. The retrial began in January 2026, and the court found both parents guilty of neglect, sentencing the father to 14 years 6 months and the mother to 2 years 11 months.
The case remains in dispute, with both sides appealing. The judge’s detailed timeline documented the boy firing 66 bullets over two minutes and one second, underscoring the severity of the crime.
Experts argue that the parents’ failures to secure firearms and supervise the child contributed to the tragedy, a view bolstered by the judicial findings. Current debates focus on reforms to gun safety and parental responsibilities.
For context, the 2023 shooting was the first school shooting in Serbia, sparking nationwide protests and prompting a government gun amnesty and stricter regulations.
