In a tragic incident that shook Serbia three years ago, a 13-year-old boy named Kosta K. carried out a mass shooting at the elementary school Vladislav Ribnikar in Belgrade on May 3, 2023. During the attack, he killed nine students and a security guard while injuring six others. The event left deep scars on the community and sparked widespread discussions about gun control, parental responsibility, and youth mental health. Now, after a lengthy legal process, the parents of the perpetrator have been found guilty and sentenced to prison terms.
The trial against Vladimir and Miljana Kecmanović, the parents of Kosta K., was initially held in December 2024. However, the appellate court in Belgrade annulled the first verdict due to procedural deficiencies. This led to a new trial beginning in January 2026, where both parents were once again charged with neglecting their son's welfare and allowing him access to firearms. On June 18, 2026, the higher court in Belgrade delivered its decision, sentencing Vladimir Kecmanović to 14 years and six months in prison and Miljana Kecmanović to two years and eleven months. These sentences were slightly lower than the maximum requested by the prosecution but still significant given the gravity of the crime.
The court found both parents guilty of failing to properly safeguard the weapons kept at home and allowing their son to train with firearms at a local shooting range. According to the evidence presented during the trial, Vladimir Kecmanović had taken his son to a shooting club in Belgrade multiple times, including sessions where the boy practiced shooting at human silhouettes. Additionally, the mother, Miljana Kecmanović, was found to have DNA traces on one of the bullets used in the attack, indicating her possible involvement in handling the weapon.
During the trial, the defense argued that there was insufficient evidence to prove the parents' guilt beyond reasonable doubt. They maintained that they could not have foreseen their son’s actions and that the prosecution failed to establish a direct link between their behavior and the tragedy. Despite these claims, the court rejected them, emphasizing the parents' failure to provide adequate care and supervision for their son.
The victims' families expressed their anguish over the lack of justice, stating that the parents should be held accountable for their role in the tragedy. One of the mothers, Ninela Radičević, whose daughter Anja Božović was among the victims, emphasized that the parents were being tried not just for the murder itself but for their negligence and failure to protect their son from becoming a danger to others. She pointed out that the weapons were stored in the family home as if they were ordinary items, making them easily accessible to the teenager.
Kosta K., who was under 14 at the time of the attack, remains legally non-culpable according to Serbian law. He has since been placed in a specialized psychiatric facility under close supervision. His case highlights the complex interplay between parental responsibility, access to firearms, and the need for early intervention in cases involving minors with potential mental health issues.
The legal proceedings have also brought attention to the broader societal issue of gun ownership and safety regulations. While the parents were found responsible for the mishandling of firearms, the incident underscores the importance of stricter laws governing the possession and use of weapons, especially within households with minors. It also raises questions about the adequacy of existing measures to identify and address psychological risks in young individuals before they escalate into violent acts.
As the final ruling is not yet binding, both the prosecution and the defense have the right to appeal to the appellate court. This means that the outcome of this case might still change, leaving room for further legal challenges and public discourse on the responsibilities of parents and the regulation of firearms in society. The tragedy at the Belgrade elementary school continues to serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglect and the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
7 reports
Maribor24IndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 8520 days agoThe Higher Court in Belgrade has sentenced the parents of Kosta K., a minor who falsely claimed responsibility for a shooting at a primary school in Belgrade three years ago. The incident resulted in ten deaths and six injuries. Father Vladimir Kecmanović was sentenced to 14 years and six months in prison for neglect and abuse of a minor, while mother Miljana Kecmanović received a two-year and eleven-month sentence for similar charges. Both the prosecution and defense have the right to appeal the verdict. Kosta K., now 16, cannot be tried due to legal protections for minors but remains under监督
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about a court ruling without evident ideological framing. It reports on legal proceedings, sentences, and the status of the accused without apparent bias toward any political side.
Why these scores (Factual 95 · Objective 85): The article accurately reports the sentencing of the parents based on the primary source document, though it slightly omits details about the initial ruling being overturned. The tone shows some bias by emphasizing the prosecutor’s stance.
DeloIndependent🔒CenterFactual 95Objective 8520 days agoThe Supreme Court in Belgrade has sentenced the parents of a boy who committed a school shooting in Serbia in May 2023, killing nine children and a security guard and wounding five others and a teacher. The father, Vladimir Kecmanović, was sentenced to 14.5 years in prison, while the mother, Miljana Kecmanović, received 2 years and 11 months. The court reduced the sentences compared to the initial ruling, which had been overturned by an appellate court. The son, who was under 14 at the time of the attack, was not criminally responsible. Both parents denied the charges throughout the trial.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about a legal case without apparent ideological framing. It reports on the court's decision, the charges against the parents, and the reduction of their sentences, without showing clear bias toward either side of the issue.
Why these scores (Factual 95 · Objective 85): Highly factual with specific details like the exact sentences of the verdicts and the names of the individuals involved. However, it includes some interpretive elements such as the statement from the victims' lawyers agreeing with the conviction.
Žurnal24IndependentCenterFactual 94Objective 8220 days agoA court in Belgrade has re-sentenced the parents of a minor who shot ten people at an elementary school in May 2023. The father, Vladimir Kecmanović, was sentenced to 14 years and six months in prison, while the mother, Miljana Kecmanović, received two years and eleven months. This follows the annulment of their initial conviction by an appellate court, which ruled that the original sentence was invalid. The prosecution had requested the maximum possible prison terms, while the defense argued that the charges were not proven.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about a legal case without apparent ideological framing. It reports on the court's decision, the sentences imposed, and the reasons behind the re-trial, including the annulment of the previous judgment. There is no evident bias in language, sourcing, or tone.
Why these scores (Factual 94 · Objective 82): This article closely follows the facts presented in the primary source and provides additional context about the legal process. However, it still leans slightly toward the prosecution's perspective.
Siol.netState / PublicCenterFactual 92Objective 7820 days agoThe Supreme Court in Belgrade has issued a new verdict against Vladimir and Miljana Kecmanović, the parents of a teenager who killed nine students and a school security guard at the Vladislav Ribnikar Primary School on May 3, 2023. The father was sentenced to 14 years and six months in prison, while the mother received a sentence of two years and eleven months. This follows an appeal court in Belgrade invalidating much of the initial verdict and ordering a retrial. Previously, Vladimir had been sentenced to 14.5 years, and Miljana to three years. Ninela Radičević, mother of victim Ana Božović,
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a legal case involving a tragic school shooting and the subsequent sentencing of the parents. It presents factual information without overtly biased language, framing, or emphasis. The content focuses on the legal proceedings and quotes from affected parties without showing a傾
Why these scores (Factual 92 · Objective 78): The article is mostly factually correct but includes emotional quotes from a victim's mother, which affects objectivity. It also repeats some information from the primary source.
24ur (POP TV)IndependentCenterFactual 90Objective 8020 days agoThe Supreme Court in Belgrade has sentenced the parents of a student who was involved in a school shooting on May 3, 2023, at the elementary school Vladislava Ribnikarja, where nine students and a staff member were killed. The father, Vladimir Kecmanović, was sentenced to 14 years and six months in prison, slightly less than the 14 years and 11 months requested by the prosecution. The mother, Miljana Kecmanović, received a sentence of two years and eleven months, less than the three years requested. Both were convicted for neglect and abuse of a minor and endangering public safety. The defense
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a legal decision regarding the parents of a school shooter without apparent ideological framing. It presents facts about the sentencing, including the charges, the requested sentences, and the actual sentences handed down. There is no evident bias in language, emphasis, or the
Why these scores (Factual 90 · Objective 80): The article provides accurate information but includes some subjective language like 'praktično ponovili prvostopenjsko sodbo,' which implies judgment rather than neutrality.
RTV Slovenija (MMC)State / PublicCenterFactual 90Objective 8020 days agoThe higher court in Belgrade has sentenced the parents of a boy who killed ten people at an elementary school in Belgrade in May 2023. The father, Vladimir Kecmanović, was sentenced to 14 years and six months in prison, while the mother, Miljana, received two years and eleven months. The court found the father guilty of causing general danger and neglecting and misusing his underage son, while the mother was only found guilty of the latter charge. The prosecution had requested 14 years and 11 months for the father and three years for the mother. The defense argued that the charges were not-pro
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a legal ruling regarding the parents of a school shooter without apparent ideological framing or biased language. It presents facts about the trial, sentences, and arguments from both the prosecution and defense.
Why these scores (Factual 90 · Objective 80): Accurate overall but slightly less detailed than the primary source. It mentions the father’s sentence as 14 years and six months, which aligns with the primary document, though it omits some specifics. The tone leans slightly toward the prosecution’s perspective by emphasizing the severity of the c
LokalecIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 7520 days agoThe Belgrade High Court has reconvicted Vladimir and Miljana Kecmanović, parents of a teenager who killed nine students and a school security guard in May 2023 at the Primary School Vladislav Ribnikar. The retrial followed the annulment of the original verdict due to procedural deficiencies. Prosecutors demanded the strictest penalties, arguing that the parents' behavior significantly contributed to the tragedy. The defense maintained that the parents could not have foreseen their son's actions and that there was insufficient evidence for criminal liability. During the trial, issues such as育儿疏
Bias read (Center): The article presents both the prosecution's arguments and the defense's stance without overtly favoring either side. It includes direct quotes from both parties and highlights key points raised by victims' families and legal representatives without apparent bias.
Why these scores (Factual 85 · Objective 75): Less precise in terms of exact sentencing details compared to the primary source. It includes quotes from the defense and victims’ families, which adds context but may introduce bias. The article also emphasizes the tragedy and calls for prevention, which could affect objectivity.
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