A Serbian court has sentenced the parents of a boy who killed nine students and a security guard in a 2023 school shooting in a retrial, according to a report by Reuters. The verdict comes after an earlier trial was overturned on appeal.
Details of the Case
Miljana Kecmanovic, the mother of the 13-year-old shooter, was among those sentenced. The shooting occurred at the Vladislav Ribnikar primary school in Belgrade, shocking the nation and prompting stricter gun control laws. The parents were accused of negligence for improperly storing firearms and failing to supervise their son.
The retrial concluded with the court finding both parents guilty of criminal acts against public safety. Their sentences were not immediately disclosed, but the case has drawn widespread attention to parental responsibility in gun violence.
Legal Context
The original trial resulted in convictions, but the defense appealed, leading to the retrial. The new verdict reaffirms the lower court's decision, emphasizing the parents' failure to secure the weapon used in the attack. The shooter, being a minor, was not tried as an adult and is receiving psychiatric treatment.
Public Reaction
The ruling has been met with mixed reactions in Serbia. Victims' families expressed relief, while some legal experts questioned the severity of the punishment. The case has sparked debates about gun safety and parental accountability across the Balkans.
