Belgrade Retrial Brings Jail Terms for Parents of Teenage School Shooter
In a retrial held in the capital’s highest court, the parents of a 13‑year‑old who opened fire on his elementary school, killing nine children and a security guard, have been given jail sentences. The father, Vladimir Kecmanović, received a 14‑year‑and‑6‑month term, while the mother, Miljana Kecmanović, was sentenced to two years and 11 months for neglect.
The boy, armed with two handguns taken from his father’s safe, fired 66 bullets in a span of two minutes over the course of the attack that took place on 3 May 2023. After the shooting, six other children and a history teacher were wounded.
Initially, the parents were tried in 2024; the court found that the father had not stored the firearms safely and had even trained his son to handle guns, while the mother was cleared of illegal possession but convicted of neglect. A shooting range instructor was also found guilty of supplying false evidence.
However, a year later the Court of Appeal placed the parents on review, stating that the previous verdicts had ambiguous reasoning. The father remained in custody while the mother was released pending the new trial that began in January. Both defence and prosecution have appealed the current sentences.
The court’s decision highlights the urgent need for comprehensive community measures to prevent such tragedies. From a broader perspective, the case underscores the gap between legal outcomes and the cultural practices that many indigenous communities use for healing trauma and protecting youth: holistic family support, open dialogue, and respect for traditional guardianship.
The retrial has been described by victim‑family lawyers as a "long fight" that may go on through the appeal process. It forces policymakers and civil society to examine whether justice alone can rebuild trust, or whether restorative frameworks rooted in cultural wisdom are required to address underlying causes of violence.
For communities worldwide, especially those whose traditions give precedence to collective responsibility and restorative justice, the Belgrade case is a stark reminder that protecting young people can only succeed through strong communal bonds, mental‑health care, and safe environments that honour both a child’s potential and a community’s duty.
