Full Breakdown
Serbian Court Sentences Parents of 2023 Belgrade School Shooter
6/19/2026, 6:45:03 AM
Retrial Verdicts for Parents of Belgrade School Shooter
A Belgrade court sentenced Vladimir Kecmanovic to 14 years 6 months in prison and his wife Miljana Kecmanovic to 2 years 11 months for neglect and abuse of a minor after their 13-year-old son carried out a school shooting on 3 May 2023. Both the defence and the prosecution have lodged appeals against the verdicts.
Background: 3 May 2023 Vladislav Ribnikar School Attack
On 3 May 2023 the boy entered the Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school in Belgrade with two handguns taken from his father’s safe. He fired 66 bullets over two minutes and one second, killing nine children and a security guard on the scene; a tenth child died later in hospital, bringing the death toll to ten. Five additional children and a history teacher were wounded. The incident was the first mass school shooting in Serbia, where such attacks are extremely rare.
Key Figures
- Vladimir Kecmanovic – father, convicted of a serious offence against public safety and neglect.
- Miljana Kecmanovic – mother, convicted of neglect.
- The shooter – 13-year-old son, placed in a psychiatric institution because he was below the age of criminal responsibility.
- Zora Dobricanin – lawyer for victims’ families.
- Chief prosecutor – argued that parental convictions address societal response.
- Defence counsel – contested the neglect charges.
- Judge – provided details on the shooting’s duration and bullet count.
Timeline of Legal Proceedings
- 3 May 2023 – School shooting.
- 2024 – Initial trial of the parents; father received a long sentence, mother cleared of illegal firearm possession but convicted of neglect.
- Nov 2025 – Belgrade Court of Appeal ordered a retrial, citing unclear and contradictory reasons for the original verdicts.
- Jan 2026 – Retrial commenced.
- Thursday 2026 – Retrial verdict delivered; both parents sentenced.
Data & Statistics
- Fatalities: 10 (nine children, one guard).
- Injured: 6 (five children, one teacher).
- Bullets fired: 66 in 2 min 1 sec.
- Sentences: 14 y 6 m (father), 2 y 11 m (mother).
- Public reaction: Tens of thousands protested; government responded with a gun amnesty and tougher gun laws.
Impact on Serbian Society and Legal Landscape
The case prompted Serbia to introduce a gun amnesty and stricter firearms legislation, marking a significant policy shift in response to an unprecedented act of school violence. The convictions aim to address questions of parental responsibility and public safety.
Official Statements & Responses
The chief prosecutor asserted that holding the parents accountable “provides part of the answer to how Serbian society responded to one of the most tragic events in the country’s peacetime history.” Victims’ families’ lawyer Zora Dobricanin described the trial as a “long fight” that would continue in the appellate court. Government officials highlighted the gun amnesty as a preventive measure.
Criticism & Opposition
Defence counsel argued that the neglect charges were unproven, noting the absence of expert testimony linking the boy’s actions to parental neglect. The counsel also contended that the verdict mirrored the initial decision that had been overturned.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The prosecution’s case relied on allegations of neglect without expert evidence, a point emphasized by the defence. Both sides have appealed, leaving the final legal interpretation of parental liability unresolved.
Verbatim Quote
> “long fight.” — Zora Dobricanin, lawyer for victims’ families
What’s Next
The appealed sentences will be reviewed by higher courts, and Serbian authorities have indicated that further legislative measures may be considered to strengthen firearm storage regulations and child-protection protocols.
