Vladimir and Miljana Kecmanović were sentenced to single terms of imprisonment for a serious crime against public safety and neglect and abuse of a minor, which resulted in the minor Costa K. committing massacre in Ribnikar, it says in the verdict.
Vladimir Kecmanović was sentenced to 14,5 years in prison, and Miljana Kecmanović to three years in prison. A shooting range instructor was sentenced to 15 months in prison for perjury.
The parents of the murdered children from the school came to the sentencing of Miljana and Vladimir Kecmanović, the parents of the killer boys from the elementary school "Vladislav Ribnikar", and together with them, the parents of the children who were killed in the massacre in Mali Orašje and Dubona were present at the trial.
The prosecutor asked for maximum penalties
The chief public prosecutor of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade, Nenad Stefanović, asked the court for maximum prison sentences for the Kecmanovićs.
In his closing speech, Stefanović proposed to the court to sentence Vladimir Kecmanović to a single prison sentence of 14 years and 11 months for the crimes of serious crime against general safety and neglect and abuse of a minor.
For Miljana Kecmanović, he proposed a single prison sentence of five years and five months for the criminal acts of illegal production, possession, carrying and trafficking of weapons and explosive substances and neglect and abuse of a minor.
The prosecutor proposed a maximum sentence of three years in prison for the shooting instructor Nemanja Marinković for the criminal offense of giving a false statement.
Stefanović believes that there are no mitigating circumstances for the Kecmanović family, only aggravating ones because they expressed neither remorse nor empathy towards the victims.
He also said that Miljana Kecmanović presented herself as an impeccable mother, while she treated the victims with distance and indifference.
He also recalled the false testimony of Nemanja Marinković in the investigation, with which he tried to divert the investigation in another direction.
Completed civil proceedings, judgment later
The civil proceedings against the parents and the boy who committed the mass murder were previously completed.
In the end, the acting judge said that the main hearing was concluded and that the verdict would be announced in writing later.
Ognjen Božović, the representative of the murdered family members, believes that this verdict should be in line with the social purpose because, as he stated, "it is not just a procedure but a turning point in social awareness and responsibility."
"The mass murder at the school forever changed the lives of not only the parents of the murdered, but also their entire families, neighbors and society. The court should send a message that this kind of behavior is not acceptable," Božović said and proposed to the court to accept the claim.
Sanja Gunjić from the attorney's office suggested that the claim against the "Vladislav Ribnik" school be rejected.
Lawyer Marina Ivelja, who represents the defendants, suggested that the claim against the defendants KK and his parents Vladimir and Miljana Kecmanović be rejected.
After the trial, Božović told journalists that he considers this procedure to be a turning point in the social responsibility of parents and institutions that should take responsibility for their actions and omissions.
He added that this verdict should send a message that such a crime should never happen again and that there must be accountability.
The boy KK, who at the time of this crime was not yet 14 years old and therefore not criminally responsible, shot on May 3rd at school with two of his father's guns that he took on May 1st last year.
On the fateful day, he put them in his backpack, went to school and during the first lesson killed 10 people and injured five more children and a history teacher.
Defense lawyers announced appeals
Lawyers Vladimir and Miljana Kecmanović, as well as the lawyer of the instructor at Nemanja Marinković's shooting range, where KK trained to shoot, announced appeals against the verdict.
Lawyer Irina Borović announced an appeal against the verdict and stated that Miljana Kecmanović was acquitted for possessing a weapon and that it was a way for the prosecution to exert pressure.
Irina Borović said that they are convinced that the prosecution did not prove the allegations of its indictment.
"This verdict was expected because the public pressure was enormous in this criminal procedure. "With today's passing of this verdict, the public, and above all the injured parties, will not have permanent relief after this decision, because no verdict can resolve such a tragic crime, nor can it heal the wounds," said Irina Borović.
She pointed out that this was not the trial of a minor K.K., although everyone acted as if it was, and that the parents should be lynched for creating such a child.
Speaking about part of the verdict against the parents for neglect and abuse, Irina Borović pointed out that the child is in a psychiatric ward and that "no amount of education is the key to this situation, but the key is in the boy himself".
The lawyer of Nemanja Marinković's shooting range instructor, Miroslav Živković, said that there is no place for his client's criminal responsibility, that no evidence was provided and that the intention was for someone from the shooting sport to be convicted.
"The verdict is unfair, I will appeal," said lawyer Živković.
The father of one of the murdered girls, Anđelko Aćimović, said that justice was partially served, that the life sentence for the Kecmanovićs was too small, and that the parents were left to mourn forever.
The mother of one of the murdered girls, Ninela Radičević, said that they expected this verdict.
"We are not satisfied, because no one bears responsibility for the murder of the nine children and Dragan," said Ninela Radičević.
She said that she will continue to fight for this case to have an epilogue.
Ninela Radičević added that the verdict is important because it sends a message about the importance of prevention and child education.
"Definitely this could have been prevented if there was no child neglect." It is an important message to society," said Ninela Radičević.
The lawyer of the families, Ognjen Božović, said that, from a legal point of view, they are satisfied with the verdict, but that there is no sanction that will bring justice and fair satisfaction to the families, because no one was convicted of the massacre.
