Father of boy who committed mass murder heard, next hearing on May 15

In the High Court in Belgrade, the trial of Vladimir Kecmanović, the father of the boy who killed nine students and a guard at the "Vladislav Ribnikar" Elementary School, continued. The accused answered the questions of the defense and the injured parties. The next hearing is scheduled for May 15, he reports RTS.

At today's hearing, Vladimir Kecmanović answered the questions of the defense and the victims, that is, the family members of the murdered, said his lawyer Irina Borović.

At the next hearing scheduled for May 15, his wife Miljana Kecmanović should also present her defense.

Kecmanović previously presented his defense and answered the questions of the court and the prosecution, while he announced that he would not answer the questions of the attorneys of the injured parties.

Denial of guilt

From the beginning of the trial, he denies the guilt of the serious offense against general security with which he is charged. The court is in this case closed the trial to the public for reasons of protecting the interests of minor victims.

In addition to Kecmanović, the instructor and the owner of the shooting range where, as it is suspected, his underage son learned to shoot, are accused. The boy's father was charged because he took the 13-year-old child to the shooting range and taught him to shoot, as well as because he did not adequately store weapons in the house.

The boy, who at the time of this crime was not yet 14 years old and therefore not criminally responsible, shot at the students of the "Vladislav Ribnikar" Elementary School with two of his father's pistols that he took on May 1.

Then on the fateful May 3, 2023, he put them in his backpack, went to school and during the first lesson killed nine students and the school guard, and injured five more children and a history teacher.