Belgrade to announce verdict today for the "Vladislav Ribnikar" Elementary School massacre

(Patria) - The Higher Court in Belgrade will today announce the verdict for Vladimir and Miljana Kecmanović, parents of the boy who on May 3, 2023, killed nine students and a security guard at a Belgrade elementary school.

Student K.K. (13) of the Belgrade Elementary School "Vladislav Ribnikar" killed nine students, his classmates, and a security guard at the educational institution, and wounded five other students and a history teacher.

The court will pronounce the first-instance verdict, to which the prosecution and defense will have the right to appeal to the Court of Appeals.

This trial has been closed to the public since its inception; however, this verdict will be publicly announced.

The Chief Public Prosecutor of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade, Nenad Stefanović, requested maximum prison sentences for the Kecmanovićs from the court.

He proposed that the court sentence Vladimir to a unified prison term of 14 years and 11 months for the criminal offenses of grave acts against public safety and neglect and abuse of a minor.

For Miljana, he proposed a unified prison term of five years and five months for the criminal offenses of illegal production, possession, carrying, and trafficking of weapons and explosive materials, and neglect and abuse of a minor.

The defense argued that the guilt of the accused was not proven.

No criminal proceedings are being conducted against the minor K.K., as he was 13 years old at the time he committed the mass murder. Criminal prosecution in Serbia is not possible for individuals under 14 years of age.