Full Breakdown
Serbian Parents Convicted in Retrial Over 2023 Belgrade School Shooting
6/19/2026, 3:17:31 AM
Retrial Verdict: Sentences for Parents
On 18 June 2026 a Belgrade court upheld the conviction of Vladimir Kecmanovic, sentencing him to 14 ½ years in prison for abuse of a minor and a serious public-safety offence. His wife, Miljana Kecmanovic, received a 35-month term for neglect and abuse of a minor, one month less than her original punishment. The father’s term remained unchanged from the first verdict; the mother’s was marginally reduced. Both sentences stem from the parents’ failure to secure the handguns used in the May 2023 school attack.
Background: 2023 Belgrade School Shooting
In May 2023 a 13-year-old boy, identified only as K.K., entered his secondary school in Belgrade and opened fire with his father’s handguns. He killed eight students and a security guard; a ninth victim, a girl, later died of her injuries, bringing the death toll to ten. Six other individuals—five students and a teacher—were wounded before the shooter surrendered to police. Under Serbian law K.K. cannot be tried because of his age and is currently detained in a psychiatric hospital for minors.
Legal Framework: Parental Liability and Firearm Storage
Serbian statutes hold parents criminally responsible for offenses committed by children younger than 14. The law also requires firearms to be stored in a manner that prevents unauthorized access. Prosecutors argued that Vladimir Kecmanovic kept his handguns in a way that allowed his son to obtain them, violating the storage requirement and constituting neglect.
Key Figures
- Vladimir Kecmanovic – father, convicted of abuse of a minor and public-safety offence.
- Miljana Kecmanovic – mother, convicted of neglect and abuse of a minor.
- K.K. – 13-year-old shooter, held in a psychiatric facility.
- Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office, Belgrade – announced satisfaction with the verdict.
- Belgrade-based Court of Appeals – previously overturned the initial verdict for procedural breaches.
- Tanjug news agency – reported the retrial outcome.
Timeline of Legal Proceedings
- May 2023 – School shooting in Belgrade.
- [Date unspecified] – Initial trial and sentencing of the Kecmanovic parents.
- [Date unspecified] – Court of Appeals overturns the original verdict citing procedural breaches.
- 18 June 2026 – Retrial concludes; father sentenced to 14 ½ years, mother to 35 months.
Data & Statistics
- Fatalities: 10 (8 students, 1 security guard, 1 girl who died later).
- Injured: 6 (5 students, 1 teacher).
- Perpetrator’s age: 13 at time of attack.
- Father’s sentence: 14 ½ years.
- Mother’s sentence: 35 months.
Official Statements & Responses
The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade said it was “satisfied with the verdict.” Prosecutors emphasized that the parents failed to provide adequate psychological support for their son and that the father did not store the handguns in compliance with Serbian law.
Criticism & Opposition
Defense counsel argued that the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence to prove the parents’ culpability. The earlier overturning of the verdict by the Court of Appeals highlighted procedural deficiencies in the first trial, suggesting potential shortcomings in the judicial process.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The source does not disclose the exact length of the original sentences, the specific procedural breaches identified by the Court of Appeals, or any direct quotations from the parties involved. It also lacks statements from the Kecmanovic parents themselves.
What’s Next
Both the defence and the prosecution retain the right to appeal the June 2026 verdict. Future appellate proceedings will determine whether the sentences are upheld, modified, or further challenged.
